Originally Posted by
Citizen's Nephew
And in 1951 Winston Churchill's Tory government introduced prescription charges (they couldn't wait!).
It should be noted though that three years after the formation of the NHS, Bevan resigned after the introduction of fees for dentures, dental care, and glasses. There's no doubt that the guy was instrumental in the formation of and the principles of the NHS. If Atlee hadn't had won, there's no way the Tories would have implemented it no matter the cross-party consensus that something urgent re. the nation's health needed to be done post-WWII.