The NHS that Tony Blair inherited in 1997 was at record high levels of public dissatisfaction. The new labour years were then I think very positive for the NHS. They started, as you say, with real public dissatisfaction with the health service and high waiting lists. There was a fear within the Labour Party and the NHS that public consent for the health service would start to disappear more widely. We didn't see too much investment but we did see some aggressive target culture introduced by the government which wasn't directed in the right direction. And it also meant that they often ending up gaming the system.
Most of us in Britain entered the world in an NHS hospital; and most of us will die under the NHS's care, too. It is a cornerstone of our society, embodying the values of equality, compassion, and universal access to healthcare. Since its inception in 1948, the NHS has transformed the lives of millions, pioneering medical breakthroughs, and providing essential care to those in need. However, it has not been without its challenges, as political ideologies and societal changes have shaped its journey.
In this episode political journalist Isabel Hardman and NHS doctor Annabel Sowemimo discuss the remarkable medical accomplishments that have defined the NHS, as well as the tumultuous political battles fought to protect and sustain this cherished institution.
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