NHS at 70 will create the first shared social history of the NHS. Through collecting stories and artefacts from NHS patients and workers as well as politicians and the general public, the project will record its unique place in everyday, post-war British life. The 70th anniversary of the NHS in 2018 is a perfect opportunity to celebrate its past and reflect on its present and future.
The NHS was created in 1948 to provide free and universal access to healthcare. It shapes our experiences of birth, life, health, sickness and death. It is the UK’s largest employer; around one in 35 of the current working population is an NHS employee.
The lived experiences of workers, patients, volunteers and the public encapsulate a unique part of British history that has worldwide importance. But, although the NHS’s political and policy history has been well studied by historians, little is known about the human stories that lie at the heart of the NHS.
The University of Manchester would urgently like to capture the stories of the first generations who worked and were cared for by this unique institution as they are now in their eighties and nineties. The University of Manchester also needs to capture the experiences of many communities of patients and workers that have barely featured in NHS histories to date. This includes disabled people, people with mental health illnesses, workers from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups, support staff, trade unions, campaigners and the thousands of volunteers who work in the NHS.
NHS at 70 is supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Get involved
The University of Manchester are looking for volunteers to collect stories about the NHS from members of the public in Greater Manchester and South Wales. You will receive professional oral history training, a chance to develop research skills and the opportunity to hear first-hand these remarkable stories from local communities.
If you would like to collect stories or to share your story contact the NHS 70 Project Team, on 0161 275 0560, or email: [email protected]
For further information, visit: www.manchester.ac.uk/nhs70
