Medical Services before the NHS

Our country is currently suffering a severe National Health Crisis, but have you ever wondered who paid for medical services before the NHS was introduced?

Our archives tell us that in the late 1800's and early 1900's, public health services were provided through an unevenly distributed and decentralised system of charitable voluntary hospitals, workhouses and worker contributions to 'approved' societies, administered under the Poor Law system. (Definition of the 'poor' is defined as those in want of the basic means subsistence, such as food, shelter, fuel, clothing,etc). In 1834, poor relief was the responsibility of individual parishes to look after any resident unable to support themselves. We must remember also that our woollen mills were failing and many people became destitute with no work available. Uley Workhouse, which was sited at the top of Fop Street, was reopened in 1830. Several parishes grouped together to provide aid and A Poor Law Union was created. Healthcare was mainly provided by charities, the welfare committees that operated the workhouses and sometimes by an unregulated private sector.

Few working class people were able to pay for their own medical treatment. Friendly Societies were set up as a major funding source for workers to insure their health. In the case of Uley, a Hospital Sunday Society was set up and the money collected from the organised events, plus the house to house collections, would be distributed to The Gloucester Royal Infirmary & The Bristol Royal Infirmary hospitals. Many events were organised and the earliest reported one I could find was in 1922 when a church parade was held in Uley & Nympsfield and raised £26.10s.1d. Also in this year a very successful dance was held at the school. Friends came from near & far, about 150/200 people present, the schoolroom had been tastefully decorated. The dancing commenced at 8pm until the early hours of the morning , the orchestra gave their services free of charge. There was also bowling for a live pig, generously given by Mrs Phillips of The Gables as well as guessing the weight of a cake. It was hoped to beat last year's record of £29.11s.0d

The 39th Annual Church Parade was held in 1930, headed by the Uley Brass Band , the Boy Scouts, the Brownies & the Girl Guides. The service in the Church took a special form for Hospital Sunday and commenced with the hymn Onward Christian Soldiers.

Band contests were also held from time to time in the Reading Room, which now sadly has been demolished. The grand sum of £40 was raised on 3rd September 1944 at the first parade to be held since the start of the War. The procession started at The Turnpike at 5.30pm and was headed by the Special Police followed by the Lister Silver Band, the Uley Home Guard, N.F.S. Civil Defence and the Women's Land Army.

The Hospital Sunday fund continued for many years and it would be difficult to estimate the value of this help which proved to be eminently successful and gratefully received by the local hospitals in assisting them to administer medical care to the poor & needy.

Eventually the NHS was launched by Aneurin Bevan MP, in 1948.