NHS’s true founders

THE notion that the Conservatives played a part in the creation of the NHS in 1948, elbowing Labour’s Aneurin Bevan off his founder’s plinth (Letters) is a joke.

The Tories fought Bevan all the way in 1947 and voted against the Bill by 340 to 180 with two future Prime Ministers, Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan, among the ‘no’ voters.

VICTOR DAVIS, London W8.

FURTHER to the foundation of the NHS, the book 60 Years of The national Health Service includes the following: ‘In his report on social welfare systems, Beveridge had little to say about the precise nature or funding of a health service, though seeing one as essential to a satisfactory system of social security . . . I n 1944 the Conservative Party produced the first White Paper on a future service.

‘ But after Labour’s election victory 1945, Bevan presented a radically different plan, favouring nationalisation of all hospitals and a regional framework.

‘After much tough negotiation this plan went through, with modest concessions.’

DON JACKSON, Romford, Essex.