National charitable fundraising for the NHS, 1948-2023

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Public Health
• Charitable Giving

Background:

• The role of charitable fundraising in the ostensibly tax-funded National Health Service (NHS) has been a long-standing debate.
• Historically, the NHS aimed to be free from the 'caprice of private charity', as stated by Aneurin Bevan in 1946.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the historical evolution and dynamics of national charitable fundraising appeals for the NHS.
• To explore the recurring conflicts regarding the acceptability of national fundraising and its impact on local NHS charities.

Main Methods:

• Archival research into the history of NHS fundraising.
• A witness seminar with key figures in the NHS charity sector.
• Qualitative interviews with 13 NHS charity staff and trustees (2021-2023).

Main Results:

• National appeals have been proposed, debated, and implemented throughout the NHS's history.
• Conflicting ideas persist about the acceptability of national fundraising versus local service loyalty.
• The NHS charity landscape involves a complex interplay between local and national actors.

Conclusions:

• The history of NHS charitable fundraising is not merely spontaneous generosity or policy reform.
• It reflects complex, evolving dynamics between diverse local and national stakeholders over 75 years.
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial for current and future NHS funding strategies.