AT the moment the clock struck midnight on July 5, 1948, everyone in the UK had the right to free health care for the first time.

It was the start of a revolution which freed millions of people from the fear over whether they could afford their medical bills.

Norman Trueman was one of the first babies born in Sheffield - making his appearance at ten minutes past midnight and his parents didn't have to pay a single penny to their GP for attending the birth.

"My dad offered a shilling to the doctor for the birth but the doctor said he couldn't accept it off him as the NHS had just began," said Norman, from Woodhouse.

"It was just past midnight so he couldn't charge anything."
Norman is proud of his start in life and bought a coin issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the NHS.

Over the years, Norman and his wife Christine, 63, who has rheumatoid arthritis, have seen the benefits of the health service in their own family - all three of their sons needed medical help in childhood.

Eldest son Peter, now 44, had a serious kidney complication as a five-year-old and need an operation.

"It was in 1969 and it was unusual, they needed to get a specialist up from London to operate," recalled Norman, a grandfather of ten. "It was a serious problem but he came through and he's OK."

Younger son Alan, 32, needed treatment as a child for rheumatoid arthritis, while their middle son David, 36, was the accident-prone member of the family who suffered cuts and broken bones.

Norman says he and his family could not be happier with the care and attention they've received from the NHS.

"We are very impressed particularly with the care from Rotherham Hospital, where Christine is treated," he added.

Another arrival on the first day of the NHS was Joyce Turner, born in Parson Cross.

All through her childhood, brothers Robert Webster, aged 12 when she arrived, and Harry, who was 10, used to tease her by saying the only reason her mother had her was because she didn't cost anything!

Joyce, a mother-of-three, who now lives in Carlton in Lindrick, said: "Robert had to go for the midwife on his pushbike so he remembers it well as there was a big gap between me and my older brothers.

"They always said I came along because I was free!"

As a baby, Joyce became very sick with gastro-enteris and had to spend time in Sheffield Children' Hospital.

But parents were not allowed to visit and to find out how their children were, they had to read about it in The Star! Children were allocated a number and a report said how they were progressing.

"Thankfully, things have changed," said Joyce.

Also arriving on the first day of the NHS was Keith Lindley, from Ecclesfield.

Born with a cleft palate and hair lip, he needed frequent hospital treatment throughout his childhood. From the age of three months until he was 16, Keith endured three operations on his face every year.

Attitudes 60 years ago to a facial disability were often hostile.

"Growing up, people were very nasty, it was really bad when I was a young child at school," said Keith. "But I think people now are more aware and the treatment is much better than it was then."

As an adult, the dad-of-two has continued to need medical care because he now has diabetes.

And he has seen the benefits of the NHS in his family as wife Maureen, 62, needed emergency treatment for a life-threatening heart condition.

Eighteen months-ago, she had to be resuscitated and needed to undergo an urgent triple heart bypass to survive.

"We've certainly had our money's worth from the NHS," said Keith. "It's marvellous. I know there are parts that could do with improvement but I think it's an outstanding service."

Stephen Shaw, from Chapeltown, was born two days before the advent of the NHS and has seen the upside and downside of the service.

The dad-of-two has to pay out £21 a week for medication to lower cholesterol and ease backache, and his 21-year-old daughter Megan is also having to shell out for anti-allergy medicines - which he considers unfair.

But he cannot praise too highly the care offered to his father Harold, 83, who has myeloma - a rare form of blood cancer - and is being treated by experts at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, who specialise in the rare disease.

"I think we're lucky to have such expertise in Sheffield. Overall, the NHS does a good job, it's not perfect but we all rely on it," added Stephen.

Growing up, Norma Scott was well aware that her parents and aunts considered her 'lucky', as childbirth and general medical care were much better and safer under the NHS.

The mother-of-four, from Doncaster, was born on just the second day of the NHS and is a firm supporter.

She has worked for the past 16 years as a service assistant as Doncaster Royal Infirmary, helping patients with meals and drinks, taking them to x-ray and cleaning.

"I love my job. People are still very caring in the NHS and I wouldn't work anywhere else," she said.

Ray Ward celebrates his 60th birthday today, having been born the day before the NHS was formed.

He works in Sheffield for Yorkshire Ambulance Service as an ambulance
technician - and treats people suffering life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks, diabetic comas and breathing problems.

The service, he says, has changed greatly since he first joined in the 1970s. Then, the role was 'snatch and grab' to transport patients away to hospital as quickly as possible.

Now, the job also involves initial treatment at the scene, to stabilise patients' conditions and increase their chances of survival.

Ray said: "The NHS is a marvellous thing but I don't think people
realise it's not a bottomless pit."

Elaine Fleetwood was also born on 6 July 1948 at home, in Colley Avenue, Parson Cross.

Her granddad always used to tease her that fact that if she'd been born two days sooner, they would have had to pay the doctor, but that they got her for free.

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