Who is known as the 'Father of the NHS'?

Aneurin Bevan is known as the 'Father of the NHS' because he was the key figure behind the creation of the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. He served as the Minister of Health from 1945 to 1951 and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the NHS in 1948, ensuring that healthcare would be accessible to all residents of the UK, regardless of their financial situation. Bevan’s vision for the NHS was grounded in the belief that healthcare should be a right for everyone, which has had a profound impact on the British healthcare system and is a significant aspect of British social policy.

In contrast, other figures, such as Clement Attlee, were important political leaders during the time of the NHS's establishment, serving as Prime Minister and providing support for Bevan's reforms, but did not specifically focus on the NHS's creation in the way that Bevan did. Winston Churchill, primarily known for his leadership during World War II, did not have a direct role in founding the NHS. William Beveridge, on the other hand, is known for the Beveridge Report which laid the foundations for the welfare state, influencing healthcare policies but not directly creating the NHS itself.