NHS foundations laid in east London
Our NHS is a British-born institution, which has been loved and cherished by our nation for 70 years.
Over the decades, our health service has achieved medical breakthroughs. We discovered the DNA structure by Justin Watson and Francis Crick, delivered more than 44 million babies and has led the way in terms of medical firsts – we carried out the first hip replacement in 1962 and delivered the first test tube baby in 1978.
Importantly, our NHS has brought health equality to our nation. It continues to live by the principle that no matter who you are, rich or poor, everyone is entitled to high quality healthcare, without charge, at the point of need.
Long before the NHS was born on 5 July 1948 by Aneurin Bevan, there were years of campaigning for a health system that didn’t just benefit the rich. In the early 1900s the east of London was known as the home of the ‘working poor’, an area where health inequality was rife.
George Lansbury (1859 – 1940), British politician and social reformer served the east London community. Lansbury devoted himself to local politics in his home borough of Poplar, and more so to the fair treatment of the working poor. It was his views and campaigning that revolutionised how the nation thought of the poor, and pushed forward the socialist movement that fought for public housing, education and health.
For Lansbury, education and health were vital priorities that shouldn’t be dependent on income. It was in 1908, and 40 years before the establishment of the National Health Service, that George suggested the set-up of a free medical provision. Three years later George led a small group of MPs in Parliament to campaign for a state-provided National Health Service.
Serving the population of east London
While the initial Lansbury campaign was unsuccessful, the grit and determination shown by our east London MPs in the early 1900s paved the way for this year’s celebration. Over one hundred years later, we are continuing to serve the population of east London, an area where the initial foundations of the NHS were laid.
His family heritage still lives on at Barts Health
George Lansbury died in 1940, 8 years before the NHS was born. However his family’s heritage still lives on at Barts Health through his great, great granddaughter, Nancy Whiskin, head of volunteer services:
“From all the family stories that I have heard about George Lansbury, he was tormented by the social injustice and inequality that existed at that time. He recognised that healthcare should be everyone’s right and it needed to be accessible. Together with Minnie Lansbury, they opened the first free tuberculosis and ante-natal clinics in Whitechapel.
“Many said ‘his heart ruled his head’ but if he could see the NHS today his vision would have been truly fulfilled.
“We all have a duty to respect and support our great NHS in our small ways which is why I help local people get involved in volunteering.
“I am truly proud to have such a pioneering relative who went to prison for his beliefs and actions, and who started the thinking behind free healthcare that would eventually lead to the creation of the NHS we know today.”