Examine the extent to which Aneurin Bevan succeeded in overcoming the Essay

Examine the extent to which Aneurin Bevan succeeded in overcoming the obstacles which he encountered in achieving his vision for a national health service in th - Essay Example However, the NHS as an institution for providing better health services, despite all its constraints, became hugely popular with doctors and patients. Today it forms an integral part of British health and medical services. This, from a long term perspective, may be seen as Bevan’s lasting contribution to his country, and affords him an important place in the annals of its public health system. In the British post war general election Labour secured a thumping majority. This enabled the government to commence the implementation of the promises made to the British electorate in their party Election Manifesto; these promises, among others, included improved housing facilities and reforms in industry, education and health. In the sphere of health services, the Manifesto had stated that â€Å"(these facilities) should be available free for all. Money must no longer be the passport to the best treatment.† (Labour Party Manifesto 1945) It was Aneurin Bevan, (1897-1960) the Health Minister in premier Clement Atlee’s cabinet who was charged with the main responsibility of implementing the Labour Party vision. The task was tough, despite the party’s majority in the government, and there were several obstacles in the implementation of this plan. Bevan himself was clear about the goal to be achieved for the British Health System: simply put, none should be denied medical help and treatment on the grounds that he/she couldn’t afford to pay for it. He brooked no dilution of this ideal, and took a non-compromising stand on it. (Remember his famous one-liner that those who favoured the middle of the road, only got run over?) When Bevan articulated his vision, Britain already had a National Health Insurance Act1 But Bevan highlighted its inadequacies, pointing out that The National Health Insurance System provided medical care only for 21 million persons, while