NHS 75th anniversary: Patients tell of how their lives have been saved - twice
Frank Richardson and Martin Watson have had their lives saved not once - but twice - by the NHS
Last updated 5th Jul 2023
As the NHS marks its 75th anniversary, people from Herefordshire and Worcestershire have been saying how they owe their lives to the health service.
Set up in 1948, three years after the end of the Second World War 2,751 hospitals passed at a stroke into the control of the state - and it was marked across the country with a mixture of celebration and curiosity.
In the village of Ruardean near Ross-on-Wye, Roger Baldwin was honoured for being the first child in Gloucestershire to be weighed by the NHS, at the local Infant Welfare Centre.
In the 75 years since, people from across the two counties have been telling their stories of the importance of the NHS.
Frank Richardson, from Droitwich, suffered facial burns after a petrol explosion in 2011 and now has to have regular treatment.
But eight years later he was left with a serious head injury after being hit by a drink driver.
“I was admitted to Worcester and then moved to Coventry. I was treated with utmost care, respect and love and they’re the reason I’m here today,” he said.
He added: “I didn’t know what had happened and what was happening because it was a head injury. I was having to be spoken to like I was a lot younger than what I was so I could understand what was happening, what day it was.
“They just cover every aspect of care and support.”
In Hereford, Martin Watson was diagnosed with testicular cancer and praised the care he received at the city’s hospital and in Cheltenham.
But two years ago he needed the NHS again as he suffered a stroke while alone at home one morning.
Fortunately, he had his mobile phone in his pocket and was able to phone 999 – despite his vision going blurry and having no power in the right side of his body.
“You hear these horror stories from the States and you can rack up a £100,000 in a weekend by just being slightly ill,” he said.
“The idea that you can be ill and be carried through it – not just for days but for years in some cases – to not have to pay a penny for it in any additional costs is remarkable.”
History of the NHS:
NHS is established
The National Health Service was formally established in 1948 at what is now Trafford General Hospital in Manchester. The service was started by Aneurin Bevan under the government of Clement Atlee. Its aim was to create a system of free healthcare to all. One of the first patients was Sylvia Diggory, aged 13, who was suffering from a liver condition.
Prescription charges introduced
Soon after its inception, charges for prescriptions and dental care were introduced. Each prescription would cost one shilling, while dental care would require a £1 payment. Charges would eventually be dropped and then reinstated in 1968.
NHS discoveries
Throughout the 1950s, thanks to the pioneering technology the NHS was using, a number of medical advancements were made. Polio vaccinations were rolled out in the UK, the structure of DNA was found and the link between smoking and cancer was proven.
Treating new diseases
As time went on and the NHS grew, so did its capacity to look after those who were unable to be treated before. The Mental Health Act in 1983 was the first time the concept of consent was raised in treating those with mental health issues. Nurses also treated people suffering from AIDS in the late 1980s and, together with the government, helped to reduce the stigma of the disease, which primarily affected gay men.
Opening to the public
In order to cope with the increasing demand for the NHS, the structure of the service changed. In 1991, NHS Trusts were established in the first of a wave of reorganisation for the service. People would later be able to donate organs more easily with the introduction of the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Stretched resources
In the 21st century, the NHS came under pressure as a result of stretched resources. With the rising cost of medicines, the government voted to bring in longer working hours and minimal increases in pay for NHS staff in 2015. This resulted in a mass picket of junior doctors around the country for better working conditions. It was the first general strike in the NHS' history and the first instance of industrial action in 40 years. There have been further strikes in 2023
NHS during coronavirus
In 2020, a new disease named COVID-19 began to spread around the world, eventually reaching the UK at the end of January. The resulting pandemic led to NHS workers being on the frontline of the disease. Support for the NHS grew massively and during lockdowns, so-called "Claps for Carers" would take place every Thursday to thank the NHS and its staff for protecting the public during the pandemic.