Barbara Castle, as Secretary of State for Health and Social Services, campaigned to abolish pay beds in the NHS, but legislation introduced to this effect was later repealed under Margaret Thatcher.
During the 1970s, there were several public reports of mistreatment and poor quality of care provided to people with severe learning difficulties and mental health illnesses.
The Act received royal assent on 4 April 1979, providing for the establishment of the Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC).
Margaret Thatcher becomes Prime Minister, following an election manifesto suggesting the government would simplify and decentralise the health service to cut back bureaucracy.
The Royal Commission on the National Health Service, chaired by Sir Alec Merrison, aimed to consider the best use and management of the financial and human resources in the NHS.
The government started to encourage the privatisation of ancillary services such as cleaning and laundry by sending a letter to health authorities encouraging them to tender contracts.
The report of the working group on inequalities in health, chaired by Sir Douglas Black, found that people in lower social groups suffered higher rates of mortality.
