The pattern of medical services across the country before nationalisation was very complex

There was a very complex pattern of voluntary and municipal hospitals, but no planning.  The insured population – mostly working men – could go to Panel doctors after 1912, but their families were not covered

1944 diagram of the proposed National Health Service produced by the Medical Practitioners Union

1946 diagram by the TUC

Doctors were unwilling to join the NHS at first

Bevan and the doctors

NHS 1948 Informational Leaflet

The structure of the nationalised health services in 1948

Local Councils still ran a variety of clinics and services, especially for children.

NHS Scotland 1948

In 1974 came the first great reorganisation, largely taking local authorities out of the NHS but bringing Community Health Councils in as an alternative patient voice

NHS IN England 1997

NHS structures 2009

The rhetoric is always about putting the patient at the centre

2011 NHS

2012 was particularly confusing as the new structures overlapped with the old ones

NHS structures 2012

Under Lansley’s proposals the plan was that from 2013  the patient will be in control, the system will be self sustaining and the Secretary of State will fade into the background.

The Health and Social Care system 2013

Of course it may not work out like that

Cameron careless with the heart of the NHS