The Municipal Journal published an article on the 12 March 1954 with the headline ‘Local government management of the hospitals is best'. It was written by Labour politician Aneurin Bevan who, in 1948, while serving as minister of health in the Attlee Government, launched the NHS.

 This forgotten article will surprise many, since Bevan was widely quoted as being opposed to local authorities' involvement in the health service. He had opposed, in Cabinet, Deputy Prime Minister Herbert Morrison, who argued for a local government role in the management of the health service.