How many pairs of glasses were issued in the first year of the NHS?

• A. 3 million
• B. 5 million
• C. 7 million
• D. 6 million

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is the level of public uptake of NHS services in its first year, showing how quickly the new system reached people. In 1948–49, eye care became free under the NHS, and a huge number of glasses were dispensed to the population. About five million pairs of glasses were issued in that first year, reflecting both the immediate access people gained to free spectacles and the long-standing demand among those who had previously paid privately or gone without. This figure illustrates the scale of the NHS’s impact right from its start and helps explain why the early welfare state is seen as transforming everyday health care for many Britons. Smaller figures would suggest less demand than actually occurred, while larger figures would overstate the initial reach, so five million is the best fit for the extent of early provision.