Which act established the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK?

The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK was established by the National Health Service Act of 1946, which came into effect on July 5, 1948. This legislation aimed to provide healthcare services free at the point of use, funded primarily through taxation. The act represented a significant shift in the approach to public health and healthcare provision in the UK, moving towards a system where the government played a central role in ensuring that all citizens had access to medical care regardless of their financial situation.

While the Beveridge Report laid the groundwork for many social reforms, including the creation of the NHS by outlining the need for a comprehensive welfare system, it was the National Health Service Act that formally created the NHS itself. The other options, such as the Public Health Act, primarily focused on sanitation and controlling disease outbreaks in the 19th and early 20th centuries, while the Health and Social Care Act pertains to more recent reforms and developments within the healthcare system. Thus, the National Health Service Act is the definitive piece of legislation that established the NHS as we know it today.