New
New
Year 9
The NHS and the welfare state
I can describe how the post-war Labour government created the modern welfare state, including National Insurance and the NHS.
New
New
Year 9
The NHS and the welfare state
I can describe how the post-war Labour government created the modern welfare state, including National Insurance and the NHS.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The government increased general taxation to pay for child allowances to alleviate child poverty.
- The government introduced National Insurance, to which all workers contributed from their salary.
- The National Insurance scheme would give people state support if they became ill or lost their job.
- In 1948, the National Health Service (NHS) was created which was universal and free at the point of use.
- Reforms introduced by the government formed the basis of the modern welfare state.
Keywords
Welfare state - a system in which the government protects the health and well-being of its citizens by providing grants, pensions and other benefits
Taxation - the system of routinely paying money to the government
Common misconception
Every element of the NHS was free for a considerable time after its creation.
Every element of the NHS was only free for a short time, as the overwhelming demand resulted in the need to introduce prescription fees.
When discussing the creation of the NHS teachers might want to make comparisons between NHS coverage in 1948 and that of today, and discuss reasons why things like prescriptions, dental treatment and glasses are only provided free at the point of access for certain groups, rather than all.
Teacher tip
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), 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.
Why did an increasing amount of people need state support after World War Two (WW2)?
Britain had run out of food
there were not enough jobs
Q2.
What percentage of children evacuated from Liverpool in 1939 were found to have lice?
5 per cent
10 per cent
15 per cent
Q3.
Which politician became Prime Minister in 1945?
Anthony Eden
Winston Churchill
Q4.
What is the term for taking privately controlled companies and industries and putting them under government control?
Q5.
A term in politics for the overwhelming majority of votes for one party in an election is a victory.
Q6.
What was Labour's manifesto for the 1945 General Election?
'A New Welfare State'
'Old Jerusalem to New Jerusalem'
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
How many children were receiving free school meals by 1945?
1650
16 500
165 000
Q2.
What is the name for the system of routinely paying money to the government?
Q3.
What was the aim of introducing National Insurance?
a way to increase the growth of the British economy
a taxation on the rich to pay for services for the poor
Q4.
What services could people claim through the NHS?
career advice
housing support
Q5.
Who was the Labour minister for health after WW2?
Clement Attlee
William Beveridge
Q6.
Put the following events in chronological order.
Additional material
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