1945

1950

1945

World War Two ends. Labour Party comes to power with programme of social reform. After six years of war, Britain needs to rebuild its economy and repair war damage to schools, hospitals, factories and homes. To do this, Britain needs more workers.

1946

The National Health Service Bill becomes law. The service will provide free healthcare for all, irrespective of a personÕs ability to pay. Taxation and national insurance will fund the new service, which will be controlled by the government. There is a need for at least 42,000 more hospital staff in the new health service.

1948

The SS Empire Windrush arrives in Britain from Jamaica. It marks the start of postwar mass migration from the Caribbean. The British Nationalities Act gives British citizenship to all members of the Commonwealth, who have automatic right to live and work in Britain. The National Health Service is launched on 5 July. One of its priorities is to recruit more staff for hospitals. Nursing recruits and ancillary workers begin arriving in
Britain from the Caribbean; greater numbers will arrive in the 1950s and 1960s.

1949

Recruitment for nursing staff and ancillary workers takes place in Britain and overseas. Advertisements appear in the nursing press and in Caribbean newspapers such as the Barbados Advocate and Barbados Beacon. Senior nursing professionals go to the Caribbean to recruit for staff. In Britain, clothes rationing ends.

1950

General election returns Labour government. Some 5,000 black Commonwealth citizens have arrived in Britain since 1948 to work or join relatives. As British citizens, they expect a warm welcome but most encounter racial discrimination. David Pitt sets up medical practice, London. Korean War begins (ends 1953).

1951

Festival of Britain in London celebrates modern British inventions and design. NHS costs about £358 million annually, far higher than expected. Aneurin Bevan, architect of the NHS, resigns from the cabinet in protest against proposed health charges. Conservatives win general election.

© Courtesy of Imperial War Museum
A group of West Indian women recruited to join the ATS, waiting for transport to take them to their training camp