History of NHS Wales facts for kids

NHS Wales (Welsh: GIG Cymru) is the healthcare system for everyone living in Wales. It's a special system because it's funded by the public, meaning it's paid for by taxes. This allows people to get medical care without having to pay at the time they receive it.

What is NHS Wales?

NHS Wales is the main organisation that provides healthcare services across Wales. This includes hospitals, local doctors (GPs), dentists, opticians, and community health services. Its main goal is to keep people healthy and provide care when they are sick.

How NHS Wales Started

NHS Wales began as part of a bigger healthcare system called the National Health Service (NHS) in the whole of the United Kingdom. This happened in 1948, after the National Health Service Act 1946 was passed. The idea was to create a healthcare system that was free for everyone, no matter how much money they had.

For many years, the UK government in London made most of the decisions for the NHS in Wales. However, things started to change in 1969. At that time, a government official called the Secretary of State for Wales began to have more say over how the NHS worked in Wales. This was an important step towards Wales having more control over its own healthcare.

Taking Control in Wales

A big change happened in 1999 when a process called "devolution" took place. Devolution means that some powers and responsibilities that used to belong to the UK government were given to the Welsh people and their own government. Because of this, the Senedd (which is the Welsh Parliament) and the Welsh Government became responsible for NHS Wales.

This meant that decisions about healthcare in Wales could now be made in Wales, by people who understand the specific needs of the country. This includes deciding how money is spent on health, what services are offered, and how hospitals and clinics are run. So, NHS Wales is now managed directly by the Welsh Government, making it a unique part of the wider NHS family.