New
New
Year 6
The creation of the National Health Service
I can explain how the Second World War led to the creation of the NHS and the impact this had on the people of Britain.
New
New
Year 6
The creation of the National Health Service
I can explain how the Second World War led to the creation of the NHS and the impact this had on the people of Britain.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Before WWII, healthcare was not run by the government and varied greatly from place to place.
- Many people, especially women, were unable to afford healthcare and childhood illness was a big problem.
- Although the government ran schemes for workers to access free healthcare, this was mainly for men.
- During the war, the government took control of hospitals and this showed how much better things could be.
- In 1948, the National Health Service was set up offering free healthcare to everyone, improving the nation's health.
Keywords
Healthcare - healthcare refers to the system of medical services provided to individuals
Welfare state - a welfare state is when a government provides basic services for the people in the country to help protect their well-being
Common misconception
Students may think that National Insurance before WWII allowed men to receive healthcare without paying for it.
They had to pay with some of their wages to be entitled to the benefits of healthcare.
You could look up some of the hospitals in your area to see if any were originally set up with a charitable donation or were isolation hospitals.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
What is the term given to when people vote to choose who they want to represent them in government?
democracy
decision
referendum
Q2.
Which of the below statements accurately describe some of the problems in Britain after WWII had ended?
the cities were being bombed
Q3.
Which political party was the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, leader of during WWII?
The Labour Party
The War Party
The Liberal Party
Q4.
What was the name given to the campaign that helped people have better diets?
Plant for Victory
Farm for Victory
Grow for Victory
Q5.
In what year did the new Labour Government launch the 'New Towns Act'?
1945
1947
1948
Q6.
Which were some of the features of rebuilt cities in Britain after WWII.
buildings were made with steel
many historical buildings were restored
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which statements about children and healthcare before 1939 are correct?
Nearly all babies were born in hospitals with doctors.
Q2.
Who had to pay for healthcare before 1939?
only women and children
only men
only rich people
Q3.
In which year was the Beveridge Report published?
1946
1948
1950
Q4.
Complete the sentence. The Labour Party, led by Clement Atlee, set up a system of benefits known as the ' state'.
Q5.
What was one of the main aims of the National Health Service, set up in 1948?
to only make the richest people pay for healthcare
to make healthcare free for the poorest people
Q6.
What vaccine was given out for free in the 1950s to help stop a disease in children?
Additional material
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