This deep dive covers Before the NHS — What Was Wrong? within The NHS for GCSE History. Revise The NHS in Medicine Through Time for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 4 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 12 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 3 of 12
Practice
8 questions
Recall
4 flashcards
🧠 Before the NHS — What Was Wrong?
| Problem | Effect |
|---|---|
| Fees | Doctors charged per visit. Poor families couldn't afford treatment. |
| Insurance (1911) | Lloyd George's National Insurance only covered working men — not wives, children, unemployed. |
| Charity hospitals | Relied on donations. Often overcrowded, underfunded. |
| Patchwork system | No national planning. Some areas had good hospitals, others none. |