The National Health Service has provided Britain’s healthcare since 1948. This institution has been the subject of tense political debate since its inception and has undergone a number of complex reforms and restructures. But the meanings of the NHS are not only – or even primarily – lived out in politics. Nearly every Briton comes into contact with the NHS – from cradle to grave – and this system of healthcare shapes society, culture and everyday life. This book charts these multiple meanings, looking at the NHS as a site of work, activism and consumerism, as a space and in cultural representations. Looking in these ways, the book shows how and why the NHS has become a symbol of Britishness and an object of fierce protectiveness, even love, today.

• Cultural Representations: Investigates how the NHS is portrayed in media and cultural narratives, contributing to its identity.
• Symbol of Britishness: Argues that the NHS has become a powerful symbol of British identity, evoking strong feelings of protectiveness and even love among the public.
• Comprehensive Insight: Aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the NHS’s role in shaping British society and the emotional connections people have with this institution.