24 September 1948

Between 92 and 93 per cent of the population of Great Britain was now on the lists of doctors within the NHS, said health minister Aneurin Bevan at the annual dinner of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. About 150,000 a week were being added, and it appeared that by the end of the year almost 100 per cent of the population would be within the service.

Expressing his satisfaction, Mr Bevan said this meant the NHS would be a classless service and every section of the community would benefit. Speaking at the same time to the International Congress on Industrial Medicine, Dr George Godber of the Ministry of Health said that perhaps the NHS's greatest commendation was that very few people had noticed the change.

Administratively it represented a triumph of skilful planning. But before long the public would expect a change - for the better. That was the task facing the new service, and nobody could underestimate its immensity.