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The legacy of voluntarism: Charitable funding in the early NHS

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  • Bernard Harris
  • Rosemary Cresswell

Abstract

Before 1948, approximately one‐third of the United Kingdom (UK)’s hospital beds were located in voluntary hospitals, many of which continued to benefit from the funds generated by their historic endowments. When the National Health Service (NHS) was created, the vast majority of these hospitals were taken over by the State. This paper examines the neglected question of what happened to these endowments and the role which charity continued to play in the funding of NHS hospitals more generally. It makes an explicit attempt to examine the development of hospital services in each of the UK's constituent nations and shows how the treatment of endowments and the role of charity differed between them. It also highlights the continuing importance of arguments over the ‘boundaries’ between ‘essential’ and ‘non‐essential’ forms of health service expenditure, and between the roles of the statutory and voluntary sectors more generally.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernard Harris & Rosemary Cresswell, 2024. "The legacy of voluntarism: Charitable funding in the early NHS," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 77(2), pages 554-583, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ehsrev:v:77:y:2024:i:2:p:554-583
    DOI: 10.1111/ehr.13280
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Gorsky & John Mohan & Martin Powell, 2002. "The financial health of voluntary hospitals in interwar Britain," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 55(3), pages 533-557, August.
    2. Bowles, James & Clifford, David & Mohan, John, 2023. "The place of charity in a public health service: Inequality and persistence in charitable support for NHS trusts in england," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
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