NHS history

NHS walk-in centres introduced

NHS walk-in centres (WiCs) offer convenient access to a range of NHS services and are managed by primary care trusts (PCTs). There are around 93 NHS WiCs in England, dealing with minor illnesses and injuries. WiCs are usually run by nurses and are available to everyone. You do not need an appointment or to be registered to visit a walk-in centre. Most centres are open every day of the year and are situated in convenient locations, giving patients access to services outside regular office hours.

NHS Plan

The NHS Plan brings about the biggest change to healthcare in England since the NHS was formed in 1948. It sets out how increased funding and reform will eliminate geographical inequalities, improve service standards and extend patient choice. It outlines the vision of a health service designed around the patient.

Primary care trusts launched

Primary care trusts (PCTs) oversee 37,000 GPs and 21,000 NHS dentists. PCTs control 80% of the total NHS budget. They liaise with the private sector when contracting out services. As local organisations, they understand the needs of their community, so can make sure that organisations providing health and social care services work effectively.

Read more about authorities and trusts in our About the NHS section.

First successful gene therapy

In April 2002, the first successful gene therapy is carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. It cures 18-month-old Rhys Evans of 'bubble boy' disease (severe combined immunodeficiency, or SCID).

First pilot scheme for free choice

The first pilot scheme for free choice is introduced. Patients facing a wait of more than six months are given the choice of going to an alternative provider for faster treatment.

National Programme for IT launched

The Wanless report, examining future trends affecting the health service in the UK over the next two decades, is published in April 2002 and includes several key recommendations for IT in the NHS. As a result of this report, in June 2002 the Department of Health publishes its new strategy for developing IT in the NHS, laying the foundations for the National Programme for IT. The programme is formally established in October 2002. Its task is to procure, develop and implement modern, integrated IT infrastructure and systems for all NHS organisations in England.

Four-hour target for A&E departments

The four-hour target to ensure that no patient spends more than four hours in an accident and emergency (A&E) department from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge is set in the NHS Plan in 2000.

In 2003, a 98% minimum operating figure is set to allow for the minority of patients who clinically need more than four hours in A&E.

The target becomes an operational standard in 2005. In the 2006/07 year, national performance against the operational standard is 98.2% (all types of A&E). For the year 2007/08, across all A&E types, including those provided by the independent sector, performance against the operational standard is 97.9%.

Read more about emergency and urgent care services in our NHS services section.

First foundation trusts created

Foundation trusts are first introduced in 2004. They are a new type of NHS hospital run by local managers, staff and members of the public. They are designed to provide the services each local population needs. Foundation trusts are given much more financial and operational freedom than other NHS trusts and represent the government’s decentralisation of public services. Like other trusts, foundation trusts are assessed by the NHS performance inspection system. There are now 122 foundation trusts in England.

Read more about authorities and trusts in our About the NHS section.

Extended patient choice

Where appropriate, people have the choice of at least four providers when referred for planned hospital care. In May 2006, an Extended Choice Network is launched. This allows patients to choose from NHS foundation trusts and independent sector treatment centres, in addition to local options. In August, the scheme expands further, with more independent providers added. Choice expands again in 2008.

NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme launched

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme is one of the first national bowel screening programmes in the world and the first cancer screening programme in England to include men as well as women.

All men and women aged 60 to 69 are expected to be included by December 2009, meaning around two million men and women will be screened and an estimated 3,000 cancers detected every year. The programme will be extended from 2010 to include men and women aged 70-75 years.

Find out more in the How screening for bowel cancer works section.

Vaccination of babies against pneumococcal meningitis begins

A pneumococcal vaccination catch-up programme is introduced to ensure that children up to two years of age, who are at most risk from pneumococcal infection, are also offered the vaccine. This leaflet briefly describes the disease and the programme.

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme begins in 2006, providing easy access to talking treatment on the NHS for people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders.

Launch of NHS Choices health information website

The NHS Choices website is launched in June by the Department of Health. The service is intended to help people make choices about their health, from lifestyle decisions about smoking, drinking and exercise, to finding and using NHS services in England.

Smoking ban

From July 1 2007, smoking is banned in restaurants, pubs and other public places in England.

Introduction of robotic arm leads to groundbreaking heart operations

A revolutionary robotic arm is used at St Mary’s Hospital, London, to treat patients for fast or irregular heartbeats.

Less risky than more invasive techniques, it works by inserting several fine wires into a vein in the groin. These are then guided to the heart, where they deliver an electric current to specific parts of the heart muscle. Cardiologists control the robot arm through a computer using a joystick. In future, the system could be automated so that the robot guides the wires to a place in the heart chosen by the doctor from images on a computer screen.

Around 50,000 people develop an irregular heartbeat each year. It's a major cause of strokes and heart attacks.

Free choice

Free choice is introduced on April 1 2008. Patients referred by their GP for their first consultant-led outpatient appointment can choose from any hospital or clinic that meets NHS standards.

The NHS at 60

On July 5 2008, the NHS celebrates its 60th birthday. Local events take place across the country, and NHS staff and patients celebrate at Westminster Abbey and 10 Downing Street.

Next Stage Review

Lord Darzi’s Next Stage Review is the biggest consultation process in the history of the NHS. It involves 60,000 staff, clinicians, patients and members of the public to try to improve the quality of NHS services.

HPV vaccination programme

In September 2008, a national programme to vaccinate girls aged 12-13 against human papilloma virus (HPV) is launched to help prevent cervical cancer.

There is also a three-year catch-up campaign that will offer the HPV vaccine (also known as the cervical cancer jab) to 13- to 18-year-old girls.

Target to halve MRSA infections in England is met

The target set in 2003/04 to halve MRSA bloodstream infections in England is met in September 2008.

Read more about MRSA infections in our Health A-Z section.

NHS screening anniversary

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the NHS Breast and Cervical Screening Programmes. Since 1988, over 70 million women have been screened and over 100,000 breast cancers and 400,000 significant cervical abnormalities have been detected.

Change4Life

Change4Life aims to prevent people from becoming overweight by encouraging them to eat more healthily and exercise more. The Change4Life advertising campaign begins on January 3 2009.

Same-sex accommodation programme

The Department of Health aims to eliminate all remaining mixed-sex hospital accommodation by April 2010. In January 2009, the health secretary Alan Johnson announces plans to help hospitals eliminate mixed-sex accommodation.

These plans include:

• funding for hospitals to improve patient privacy and dignity,
• specialised advice and support to help hospitals make the most of their resources,
• introducing performance measures from April 2010, and
• monitoring patients' experience of hospital accommodation.

New NHS Constitution

The NHS Constitution is published on January 21 2009. For the first time in the history of the NHS, the constitution brings together details of what staff, patients and the public can expect from the NHS.

Care Quality Commission launched

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is launched in April 2009 as a new regulator for health, mental health and adult social care.

The new organisation aims to help to regulate the quality of services. It brings together information from the monitoring and inspection of all health and social care services.

18-week waiting times

The NHS Constitution states that no one should wait more than 18 weeks for consultant-led NHS treatment. This means that your treatment should start no later than 18 weeks from the day your GP refers you (unless you choose to wait longer or there's a good medical reason to delay).

As a result, hospital waiting times are now the shortest since NHS records began. Being treated within 18 weeks of GP referral is a significant achievement considering that people often waited 18 months or more for an operation during the 1990s.

Read the Guide to waiting times.

New Horizons: better mental wellbeing, better mental healthcare

The New Horizons programme is a 10-year strategy to improve adult mental health services in England by 2020. New Horizons brings together local and national organisations and individuals to work towards a society that values mental wellbeing as much as physical health.

NHS Health Checks

The NHS Health Check for adults in England between the ages of 40 and 74 is being introduced. It will give you and your GP a clearer picture of your health, and will help you take action to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.