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In a series tracing decisive moments in the life of our National Health Service, medical historian Sally Sheard explores the archive to tell the stories behind five crucial moments, in this first omnibus of episodes from Radio 4鈥檚 National Health Stories series.

Poor Treatment: How the nation battled to stay alive before the NHS. Treatments were basic and surgery was often performed on the kitchen table.

Pioneers: Enterprising individuals came up with schemes to address health problems in their communities. One, in particular, inspired Health Minister Aneurin Bevan's vision for the NHS.

Remedies of War: Britain鈥檚 emergency medical provision during the Second World War gave the public a taste of what a national health system might look like.

Doctors Revolt: Before the Health Minister, Aneurin Bevan, could launch his knew health service he鈥檇 need to convince the very people he鈥檇 need to run it, the doctors, who were also his harshest critics.

Free Specs & Teeth: Tracing the highs and lows that followed the launch of the NHS on 5 July 1948, one which would challenge the philosophy upon which it had been created.

Producer: Beth Eastwood