6. c. 81) came into effect on 5 July 1948 and created the National Health Service in England and Wales thus being the first implementation of the Beveridge model.

According to s 1(1), It shall be the duty of the Minister of Health ... to promote the establishment ... of a comprehensive health service designed to secure improvement in the physical and mental health of the people of England and Wales and the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness and for that purpose to provide or secure the effective provision of services ...The Act provided for the establishment of a Central Health Services Council with 41 members to advise the minister: the presidents of royal colleges, councillors, and representatives of doctors, dentists, nurses midwives and pharmacists.

Existing voluntary and local authority hospitals were transferred to the NHS.

They had responsibility for the supervision of midwives and the provision of health visitors and community nursing.

They were also responsible for vaccination of persons against smallpox, and immunisation against diphtheria and other diseases.