ABSTRACT
Since its launch 70 years ago in 1948, the National Health Service (NHS) has been continually adapting and evolving. Some might say that these changes seem cyclical, evidenced by its seemingly perpetual reorganisation and restructuring, or the advent, removal, reintroduction and then partial abolishment of prescription charges. However, other changes seem more obviously revolutionary and necessary for its survival. The world is changing rapidly with the pace ever increasing; people's expectations, disease patterns, lifestyles, medicines and technology are very different now to when The Minor Illness Manual's first edition was written in 1997.
