Horrible Histories Catch up, Series 10: 2. NHS 75th Birthday Special on CBBC

Horrible Histories

Series 10: 2. NHS 75th Birthday Special

How did the NHS come into being? When was the first kidney transplant? Is half a chicken actually a cure for anything? Find out as comedian and former psychiatric nurse Jo Brand joins Rattus to host a special episode in honour of the NHS’s 75th birthday. They discover how the NHS came to be, some of its weirder moments, and what life was like before we had the NHS to look after us. Did you know that before the NHS, getting medical help could be both difficult and expensive? We take a look at the role of the almoner, who decided who would have to pay for their treatment, and how much, before Nye Bevan comes along with his notion of free health care for all. \n\nWe learn the story of the first NHS baby (and how she was encouraged to wait a few minutes before actually coming into the world), of how nurses were recruited in large numbers and how, with ventures such as the Common Cold Unit, the NHS tried to learn about how our health could be improved using some weird and wonderful methods.\n\nIn 24 Hours in Historical A&E, we venture into a hospital where medics from across the ages are on call to treat the sick. Some of them are geniuses who were ahead of their time, such as tenth-century surgeon al-Zahrawi. There is also an 18th-century Italian surgeon who thinks the answer to all ills lies in blowing smoke up your bum with some bellows, a Tudor doctor armed with two halves of a chicken, and William Shakespeare, and a guy who thinks aggressively licking your palm is the key to diagnosing what ails you.\n\nElsewhere, we stop off for an icky look at treating the plague, before moving to more recent times and the push to vaccinate people against diseases like TB. Finally, we say thanks to our NHS with Nye Bevan and a classic Horrible Histories banger of a tune.

Source: CBBC

Most recent episodes of Horrible Histories

Horrible Histories

Series 8: 14. Fantastic Firsts Special

A special show featuring some of history’s greatest firsts, including the first ever library, Olympic Games, people on the moon and rat roller-skating on TV!

01-05-2025

CBBC

All episodes

Horrible Histories

Series 7: 2. Exceptional Explorers

01-05-2025

CBBC

All episodes

Horrible Histories

Series 7: 12. Deadly Dynasties

A look at the deadliest dynasties and how they came to, and then held on to, power. Witness Aggrippina's deadly recipes for success and Napoleon's needy sister, how the Lancastr ...

01-05-2025

CBBC

All episodes

Horrible Histories

Series 8: 7. Moon Mayhem

Comedian and space nerd Dara O Briain joins Rattus as guest host for a special show that marks the anniversary of the 1969 moon landings.\n\nFor generations, we have looked to t ...

30-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes

Horrible Histories

Series 7: 11. Formidable Florence Nightingale

Horrible Histories pays tribute to Formidable Florence Nightingale, The Lady with the Lamp (just don't let Florence hear you calling her that!) The programme charts how Florence ...

30-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes

Horrible Histories

Series 8: 6. Bizarre Beasts

A look at some of the various ways in which, throughout history, humans have lived with, worked with, and interacted with animals - from the very first socialising with wolves t ...

29-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes

Horrible Histories

Series 7: 10. Horrid Health

29-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes

Horrible Histories

Series 8: 5. Fearsome Families

Families - sometimes you love them, sometimes you bicker with them, and sometimes you marry them off to consolidate your power in Europe. Welcome to a look at some of history&rs ...

28-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes

Horrible Histories

Series 7: 8. Ruthless Rulers

28-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes

Horrible Histories

Series 8: 3. Chaotic Collabs

History is filled with tales of great minds coming together, and collaborating, to achieve incredible things. It’s also full of idiots working together to create an unholy ...

27-04-2025

CBBC

All episodes