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Charles Webster
9th of February 2010 Oxford Brookes University, History of Medicine Seminar Series
This paper gives an insight into the inner or ‘secret’ history of the upper ranks of the British health administration, based on many interviews with senior officials. After World War I, the work of the new Ministry of Health was handicapped by the economic depression. In addition, the new department was handicapped by the premature death of Sir Robert Morant, its architect and first Permanent Secretary. The success of the department depended on the harmonious working relation between the Permanent Secretary and Chief Medical Officer. Under the first incumbents, who were in office until 1935, this harmony failed to materialize. In addition, the early talent recruited to the department was quickly dissipated. By the late 1930s the health department had sunk into the doldrums. To reverse this decline, a new and more able team was recruited for World War II. This group of officials successfully oversaw the transition to a National Health Service, thereby accomplishing the ambitions of Morant. After early tribulations, the NHS was soon established on a stable basis, but there was firm evidence of weakness at the highest ranks of the health administration during the 1950s. It is believed that these defects were remedied in the 1960s. However, various sources suggest continuing conflictual relations between officials which, it is argued, were deleterious to the standing of the NHS. It is suggested that such personal factors must be taken account in the assessments of the record of the NHS.
