1991: Census shows that life expectancy for men is now 73, compared to 58 in 1930. For women this figure is 79.6, compared to 63 in 1930.

1991: The ‘internal market’ is introduced to make hospitals and doctors consider costs when recommending treatment.

1993: Conservative Government introduces Private Finance Initiative (PFI). This means a big role for private companies in building new hospitals and wards in NHS.

1997: New Labour elected, with Tony Blair as Prime Minister, promises to abolish internal market and make the NHS "once more the envy of the world". This will be done by a combination of the ‘collectivist ‘and ‘individualist’ approaches, known as the ‘third way’.

1998: Acheson Report published, showing continued health inequalities between rich and poor.


Scotland is still the worst country in Europe for the Big Three killers - heart disease, lung cancer and strokes.

1999: With the creation of the Scottish Parliament, health in Scotland is now the responsibility of the Scottish Executive. Susan Deacon is appointed as first ever Scottish Health Minister.