In the 50 years since the NHS was born, medical technology has developed at a fantastic rate. But although transplants and genetic engineering may catch the headlines today, the new age in healthcare was built on antibiotics. In the 1940s, the likes of penicillin, erythromycin and streptomycin were used for the first time to cure common infections.
1948
Two new antibiotics, aureomycin and chloromycetin are developed.
First successful internal heart surgery is performed.
1949
Antibiotic, neomycin, is developed.
1952
Vaccine is made against polio.
First successful sex-change operation takes place in Europe.
Amniocentesis test allows a foetus to be checked for abnormalities.
First tranquillizer, reserpine, is made.
1953
Open-heart surgery is performed with the aid of a heart-lung machine.
Structure of DNA is described.
1954
Link between smoking and lung cancer is suggested.
First Kidney transplant is performed on an identical twin.
1955
Ultrasound is introduced in obstetrics.
1957
Interferons (natural substances that fight viruses) are discovered.
1960
The pacemaker for the heart is developed. Methicillin, an antibiotic drug, is discovered.
Deaf people get hearing aids on the NHS.
1961
Contraceptive pill is made available on the NHS.
1962
First artificial hip operation
1963
First liver transplant is performed.
1965
Measles vaccine becomes available.
1966
Live virus vaccine for rubella (German measles) is developed.
1967
A whole heart is transplanted from one human to another.
A coronary bypass operation is performed.
Mammography (an X-ray technique) for the detection of breast cancer is introduced.
1968
New fertility drugs cause a British woman to give birth to sextuplets
A vaccine against meningitis is developed.
Epidural anaesthetic technique, to ease pain in childbirth, is announced.
1969
A single gene is isolated for the first time.
1970
First successful nerve transplant takes place.
1971
Surgeons develop the fibre-optic endoscope for looking inside the human body.
1972
CAT (computerised axial tomography) scanning provides cross-sectional X-rays of human body.
1973
Recombinant DNA technique is developed - arguably the start of genetic engineering.
The first NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) image is taken.
1975
Endorphins (morphine-like chemicals) in the brain are discovered.
1978
Insulin is 'manufactured' in bacteria from synthetic DNA.
First 'test tube' baby, Louise Brown, is born.
1980
Hepatitis B vaccine is tested.
The lithotripter, a machine that uses sound waves to break up kidney stones, is developed.
World Health Organisation announces the eradication of smallpox.
1980
Artificial heart is transplanted into a patient.
1983
HIV virus is isolated.
1985
First human cancer gene, retinoblastoma, is isolated
1986
First heart, lung, and liver transplant.
Surgeons develop an operation for removing tissue from the cornea by laser.
1987
First successful five-organ transplant.
Entire human knee is transplanted.
A laser is used to clear a blocked coronary artery.