FOXES killed 100 poultry at a Blagdon farm; Stoke St Gregory Baptist Church got a new pastor, and Lord Hylton was elected president of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society...

But the main story on the front page of the Somerset County Gazette on Saturday, July 10, 1948 was headlined: 'County health service starts under handicap'.

The NHS had rolled out - but people were being urged to have patience with the new system.

The story read: "This week the National Health Service began to operate in Somerset under difficulties created by shortages of accommodation and nursing staffs; a deadlock with the county's dentists - 80 per cent of whom are stated to be holding aloof from the scheme; and the formidable task facing administrative staffs in coping with the vast volume of paper work associated with the scheme in its initial stages."

But the problems being experienced in 1948 were symbolic of what a huge achievement the NHS was - and remains.

Somerset County Gazette:

An official quoted in the County Gazette then said the new organisaton had received more than 158,000 forms from people not previously on a doctor's list.

That's almost 160,000 people who were now going to be able to access healthcare, free of charge.

But doctors signed up to the new NHS were a touch optimistic, saying that despite 'teething troubles', 'eventually they anticipate the service will work smoothly'.

How many current NHS officials would agree with that?

But it cannot be disputed the NHS gave healthcare to millions of people across the country who previously could not access it.

Administration problems may remain, but where would we be without our beloved NHS?

Dr J F Davidson, Somerset's medical officer of health in 1948, said: "I hope the public will use the new service with reasonable restraint until such time as it gets on its feet ... but they had to face the change and do all in their power to get things running smoothly".

Didn't they do well.

Elsewhere, the first Taunton baby born under NHS care was to parents Mr and Mrs R Grabham, of 6 Paul Street, Taunton.

The baby girl weighed in at 6lbs 13ozs and came into the world at 1.20am on Monday, July 5, at the Borough Maternity Home.

Others born on the day were to Mrs Doris Cummings, of 48 Quantock Road, Taunton; Mrs Muriel Clem, 1 Bulls Lane, Crewkerne and to Mrs G McStay, 23 Ablemarle Road, Taunton.

Are any of these youngsters - or their families - still in the area?

Do you have a story about the NHS? Have you worked in the service for a long period of time?

Use the comments below to let us know, or click here to email us