Life before and after the NHS

By Joan S

Show and tell

Photo from WRVS Heritage Plus Archive

No lying around

I Lived in Matlock in Derbyshire, my doctor came 3 times a day once when I was very ill. He had one leg amputated at the hip. When I was better I didn't want to get up - I'd had a lovely time playing with Mum's manicure set. He came and gave me a lecture to get me up, I got up sharpish.

Cotton Wool on presecription!

When the NHS came in, people queued round the block to see their doctor, some had never seen one before in their lives. They wanted prescriptions for cotton wool to decorate their Christmas trees."