Local Health Authority Services
Local health authorities retain responsibility for community services including health visiting, maternity support, ambulances and preventive health work within the NHS settlement.
Role range: 1945-1951
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Aneurin Bevan Biography and Timeline — Page 4
Follow Aneurin Bevan through 209 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Aneurin Bevan, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
209Distinct records
4 of 6Page
1948–1951Years on this page
1948
Maternity Services
Maternity care is brought into the health service framework.
Role range: 1945-1951
Mental Health Hospitals
Mental hospitals transfer into the national hospital system.
Role range: 1945-1951
Municipal Hospitals Transfer
Municipal hospitals pass into the new NHS, integrating a large network of general, mental health and long-stay beds into the national service.
Role range: 1945-1951
NHS Appointed Day
The National Health Service begins across Britain.
Role range: 1945-1951
NHS Finance
The new service is financed mainly from taxation.
Role range: 1945-1951
NHS Launch
Launches the NHS at Park Hospital near Manchester.
Role range: 1945-1951
NHS Opening Speech
Marks the opening of the health service at Park Hospital.
Role range: 1945-1951
NHS Principles
Launches a service universal and free at the point of use.
Role range: 1945-1951
Optical Treatment
Optical treatment becomes available through the NHS.
Role range: 1945-1951
Poor Law Hospitals
Former poor law hospitals become part of the NHS.
Role range: 1945-1951
Prescriptions
Prescriptions are supplied free under the new service.
Role range: 1945-1951
Regional Hospital Boards Begin
Fourteen regional hospital boards begin operating in England and Wales, taking strategic responsibility for hospital planning and specialist services.
Role range: 1945-1951
Regional Hospital Boards Start
Regional hospital boards begin administering hospital services.
Role range: 1945-1951
Teaching Hospitals
Teaching hospitals receive special boards of governors.
Role range: 1945-1951
Tuberculosis Services
Tuberculosis services are absorbed into the new health system.
Role range: 1945-1951
Voluntary Hospitals Transfer
More than one thousand voluntary hospitals in England and Wales transfer into the NHS, bringing their beds and services into public administration.
Role range: 1945-1951
Voluntary Hospitals
Voluntary hospitals transfer into the national hospital service.
Role range: 1945-1951
Local Government Act
Local Government Act 1948 changes local government finance and Exchequer grant arrangements
Role range: 1945-1951 – 1945-1951
Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act
Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act 1948 regulates nurseries and child minding
Role range: 1945-1951 – 1945-1951
NHS Doctor Concessions
Offers concessions to bring doctors into the new service.
Role range: 1945-1951
National Health Service Parliamentary Debate
Bevan defended the new National Health Service as debates concerned financing, medical practice and public access to treatment.
1949
Nurses Act
Nurses Act 1949 reforms nursing registration and professional regulation
Role range: 1945-1951 – 1945-1951
Housing Completion Debate
Defends the government's housing record against criticism.
Role range: 1945-1951
NHS Costs
Faces higher than expected demand and rising NHS expenditure.
Role range: 1945-1951
NHS Demand
Confronts high demand for dental, optical and hospital services.
Role range: 1945-1951
NHS Specialist Services Development
Regional hospital boards begin developing coordinated specialist services so patients can be referred across local hospital boundaries for more advanced treatment.
Role range: 1945-1951
Nurses Act Training Reform
The Nurses Act creates regional nurse training arrangements, strengthening the organisation and oversight of nursing education during the NHS's first years.
Role range: 1945-1951
1950
Minister of Labour Appointment
Becomes Minister of Labour after the 1950 election.
Role range: 1950-1951
Minister of Labour
Appointed Minister of Labour
Role range: 1945-1951 – 1950-1951
Housing Act
Housing Act 1950 consolidates housing law and local authority housing powers
Role range: 1945-1951 – 1945-1951
Hospital Administration Review
A committee is appointed to examine internal hospital administration, reflecting concern about how the newly nationalised hospital system should be managed efficiently.
Role range: 1945-1951
NHS Expenditure Ceiling
The government imposes a ceiling on NHS expenditure as demand and costs rise rapidly during the service's early period of expansion.
Role range: 1945-1951
Labour Ministry
Handles labour questions during rearmament pressure.
Role range: 1950-1951
1951
Bevanite Resignation
Resigns and becomes the focus of Labour left opposition.
Role range: 1950-1951
Resignation of Aneurin Bevan
Resigns in protest over health charges and rearmament spending.
Role range: 1951-1951
Cabinet Dispute
Opposes health charges linked to rearmament spending.
Role range: 1950-1951
In Place of Fear Draft
Prepares essays later published as In Place of Fear.
Role range: 1897-1960
Resignation of Aneurin Bevan
Resigns in protest against cuts on social services
Role range: 1945-1951 – 1945-1951
Resignation of Aneurin Bevan
Resigns because Labour introduces NHS charges
Role range: 1945-1951 – 1950-1951
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.