Yesterday marked 75 years since the NHS was founded on the core principle of making good quality healthcare available to all for free at the point of delivery, regardless of wealth. Celebrations were held across the country and the occasion was marked by a service in Westminster Abbey, famous landmarks and buildings being lit up in blue, while the Prince and Princess of Wales baked cakes for the NHS Big Tea Party.
The NHS has been under increasing strain in recent years, with much debate about how to alleviate this and reduce the burden. Supporting our health service is one of Newfoundland’s core aims, which is why our tests do not rely on medical professionals or laboratories to administer or process the results - ensuring that illnesses, diseases and conditions do not go undetected. We offer a range of at-home tests for a number of health markers such as vitamin levels, cancer markers and fertility checks.
We’ve taken a look at some of the key milestones and breakthroughs that have shaped the legacy of the NHS and made it one of our most cherished institutions.
Timeline:
1948: NHS is launched on 5th July 1948.
1954: The link between smoking and cancer is established for the first time, published in the British Medical Journal.
1958: Polio and diphtheria vaccination programmes ensure that everyone under 15 is vaccinated
1960: The first kidney transplant takes place at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, involving identical twins
1961: The contraceptive pill becomes available. Initially, it was only available to married women, until the law was changed in 1967.
1968: The first heart transplant is carried out by South African-born surgeon Donald Ross at the National Heart Hospital in London
1972: CT scans revolutionise the way doctors examine the body, allowing three-dimensional images to be produced from a large series of two-dimensional X-rays
1978: The world’s first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, is born as a result of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), developed by Dr Patrick Steptoe
1980: MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans are introduced
1980: Keyhole surgery is used successfully for the first time to carry out the removal of a gall bladder
1988: Free breast screening is introduced to reduce breast cancer deaths in women over 50, the first of its kind in the world
1994: The NHS Organ Donor Register is set up for people wishing to donate their organs
2000: NHS walk-in centres are introduced to offer easy access to a range of services
2006: NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme launched for those aged 60-69, the first ever screening programme to target both men and women
2020: The COVID-19 pandemic strikes, leading to the largest vaccination campaign in NHS history
2022: NHS staff honoured with George Cross by Her Majesty The Queen at Windsor Castle