What Was There Before The Nhs

[fruitsalad]

Did people pay for their treatment before the NHS 70 years ago

[DarceyK123]

Yes or they died. Which many did cos they couldn't afford A doctor.

[gingejbee]

You only have to search...."life before the NHS", to find lots of info...

[Jackdaw33]

Some poorer people were 'on the panel' where doctor's fees were paid from relief funds for the poor.

[Sqad]

"es or they died. Which many did cos they couldn't afford A doctor."

NOT SO!
They died because there was no treatment for their diseases:
TB (Tuberculosis)...no drugs until Streptomycin in circa 1949...thousands died.
Cancer....no DXT or cytotoxic agents.......you just died.
Heart disease and strokes...no anticoagulants or surgery.
and so on and so on........nothing to do with not being able to adfford a DR.
Jackdaw is correct, one paina shilling a week to go onto the panel, to see the panel doctor who was invariably black.....white doctors made more in their practice.

[Eleena]

Thank goodness for advancements since!!

[Eleena]

I'd love to see some real medical progress with dementia /Alzheimer's.

[jourdain2]

YUP! Most people could not afford to join associations - look at reruns of Dr.Finlay.

We are a very lucky set of generations and it makes me sick that people now demand treatment as a right. We use the NHS as little as possible (buy own paracetamol etc.) but as we get older we need it more. We both paid in for donkey's years so that we would have treatment when we needed it in old age.

We are somewhat cross that people can arrive in this country of ours and expect us to treat them!

[Eleena]

Quite a bit earlier but .. ouch!
https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/behind-the-scenes/blog/removing-bladder-stone-size-tennis-ball

[khaleesi]

We've only had the nhs for 70 years!? Elenna is right, we are so lucky. Although i wonder how long it will be here for

[Eleena]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_National_Health_Service_(England)

[Eleena]

Jourdain Khaleesi.

[ToraToraTora]

yes it was very much like the US and most of the world is now.

[RobNorth]

Every street had a go-to lady in emergency situations, usually the mother of a large family, from a large family herself and therefore very experienced. With very few cars about then these ladies were also good at delivering babies...

[Caran]

I know my parents couldn't afford to pay any fees. I had double pneumonia four times before I went to school. I can vaguely remember a doctor coming and I was in my cot in the living room. I was born in 1942.

[bednobs]

i am forever grateful i live in the age of dental anaesthsia

[youngmafbog]

"What Was There Before The Nhs"

Less people coming here for free treatment?

[BagPussAA]

You also had places like The London Hospital which was run for the treatment of the poor and it relied entirely on donations from the rich. They would get money from the Royal family, other wealthy families and charities in order to keep the hospital open for the poor

[Mamyalynne]

All across the Country there were funds set up, like this one.

https://www.hospitalsaturdayfund.org/about-us

Large employers like Mill owners would take coppers from the wage to ensure workers who got ill were treating quickly should they fall ill too.

[Sqad]

Also...Consultants would give up one day a week to operate and consult without charge.