Why, where and who created the NHS
Manchester
The first NHS hospital was Park Hospital (now Trafford General), in Davyhulme, Manchester, officially opened on 5th July 1948 by Aneurin Bevan, the Minister of Health who spearheaded the creation of the NHS. During his visit, Bevan symbolically received the keys from Lancashire County Council, marking the “birthplace of the NHS.”
Britain led the way as the first Western country to introduce universal healthcare, completely tax-funded, free at the point of delivery, and available to every citizen, no matter their income or status.
Photo: Liverpoolhls/Flickr • Licensed for reuse under CC BY-SA 2.0
What would Bevan make of the NHS today? Dealing with more than 1.5 million patients every single day; and with a budget of £196.3 billion
in 2025 and rising.
Aneurin Bevan, Minister of Health, on the first day of the National Health
Service, 5th July 1948 at Park Hospital, Davyhulme, Manchester
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