📕 Chapter 3: A Long and Illustrious History
Who established the National Health Service (NHS)?
Correct answer: Aneurin (Nye) Bevan
A Winston Churchill
B Clement Attlee
✓ Aneurin (Nye) Bevan
D William Beveridge
💡 Explanation
The NHS was established in 1948 by Aneurin (Nye) Bevan, the Health Minister.
Key facts to remember
- Labour government under Clement Attlee created welfare state
- Based on Beveridge Report 1942 by Sir William Beveridge
- Five giant evils: want, disease, ignorance, squalor, idleness
- NHS established 1948 by Aneurin (Nye) Bevan
- Free healthcare for everyone, funded by taxation
- National Insurance provided unemployment, sickness, retirement benefits
Why this is the answer
From the official Life in the UK study material — 3.6.1 The welfare state and the NHS:
After World War II, the Labour government led by Clement Attlee introduced major reforms to create the welfare state. The reforms were based on the Beveridge Report (1942), written by Sir William Beveridge, which identified five 'giant evils': want, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness. The government aimed to tackle all five.
The National Health Service (NHS) was established in 1948 by Aneurin (Nye) Bevan, the Health Minister. The NHS provided free healthcare for everyone, funded by taxation. It was one of the most significant social reforms in British history. The government also introduced the National Insurance system, providing benefits for unemployment, sickness, and retirement.
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