nhs

[shylock73]

When I was very young, back in 1939 I had Rheumatic Fever which in those days was very serious and which left me with heart problems for the next five years which I spent in hospitals and heart homes. The question is that my parents were`nt very well off and my father left my mother for another woman, so as there wasn`t any NHS in those days, WHO PAID FOR MY TREATMENT ALL THAT TIME?????

[alponce]

I believe the hospitals had fund raising commitees and this paid for the treatment.

[Ethel]

In the 1930s, the UK had a conventional mix. For example, 90% of the workforce had social insurance, covering the GP service and sick pay. The other 10% and all dependants either had private insurance or made full out-of-pocket payments. Hospital costs were paid by a similar mix. 10 million people had private insurance (e.g. workers' contributory schemes) and the rest paid means-tested charges. Local and national taxes funded public health and both hospitals and specialist clinics run by local authorities.


http://www.historyandpolicy.org/papers/policy- paper-08.html

[alponce]

Interesting ethel , i was going by the link i found below for my answer.


http://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/givingwhy.asp

[shylock73]

Thankyou both, now I know. I can sleep now knowing I dont have to thank my wayward father for anything. He`s dead anyway.

[Lil O'lady]

Sometimes family doctors actually subsidised their patients' treatment on the quiet. In addition there was a massive involvement of charitable giving by the rich, which is often forgotten about now. eg the heiress of the local brewery where I live gave the equivalent of millions of pounds in today's money, to buy X-ray equipment and support new wards in the Infirmary. Like many of her generation, she had a 'leftish' political outlook and it was this outlook among the upper classes that led to the welfare state reforms after the war.

[shylock73]

I never realised that I had so many people to thank for my life in those dark and horrible early years of my life, but at least I now try to pay back my debts to help others where I can. I only wish I could win the lottery.

[Ice.Maiden]

That's a nice thing to say, shylock.