A look at the astrology of the NHS, past present and future

It is of no surprise whatsoever to me to find Neptune involved here; transiting slap bang on the Ascendant. First the NHS is in disarray and secondly we are probably not being told the whole story about the plans for it. Neptune is opposite not only the NHS Mars, compounding the sense of disarray, but also its progressed Sun. The leadership is lacking direction and/or lying. Note also that the progressed Ascendant is almost conjunct the NHS Sun square Neptune. This is a double whammy of a rather impractical nature at best, complete dissolution at worst.

I would add, also, how today when I am writing this, 5 October 2022, the Sun is conjunct the NHS Neptune creating a triple whammy as the Prime Minister stands up to talk about growing her pie (especially given her penchant for pork markets and the rhyming slang for pork pies). This is really not a good omen on so many levels of symbolism.

It is nice to see that Mercury appears on the Descendant as this news becomes increasingly clear and I would like to think I am part of that service.   

But before we look at the likely future, it is first worth back-tracking and looking at the basic chart.

The inherent characteristics

The NHS is a product of the Neptune-Pluto sextile. Its greatest challenge, though subtle, is the end of that sextile. So post 2030. We aren’t quite there yet.

The NHS was also born in that period after the war when Saturn was conjunct Pluto in Leo. Pluto’s position is not surprising, it is a health organisation and by its very nature it also has a great deal to do with end of life matters too. However, resonating to this combination means that there are wider implications.

As we know, in 2020 and 2021 Saturn was again conjunct Pluto (for only the second time since the NHS was born) this time in Capricorn. And although it was not at the degree of Pluto in the chart it was in aspect to the Saturn. We know how difficult that period was due to the pandemic.

We can also note the impact of the last Pluto Saturn opposition in 2001. Although this was trine the NHS Pluto-Saturn conjunction it did lead to the creation of a new direction in the Foundation Trusts, which have some benefits but set the Trusts financially against the rest of the system which has led to poor decisions. It was also the commencement of the disastrous IT project, which should have led to integration and efficiency but was so badly planned it only led to wasted money.

Even post 2021, Pluto has continued to make life difficult for those working within the organisation as it remains in quincunx to the Venus, Mercury, Uranus conjunction which forms much of the foundation of the day to day activities.

But that is not all. One of the problems of the NHS chart is the square between Neptune and the Sun. Leadership is always going to be a problem. With this signature only co-operation, sacrifice and unlimited support will satisfy it.  That’s great for “health” and “care” but also has broader implications; inefficiency, waste and loss of direction are inevitable. Successive governments have tried to impose targets, which is absolutely the wrong approach with this chart.  It is also why the organisation is idolised by many, perhaps beyond its real capabilities.

Mars conjunct the Descendant also means that the organisation will always have detractors and that it has issues with competition. Interestingly, this aspect is probably also why the most successful and visible part of the NHS is emergency services and surgery.

Mars is also square the conjunction of Mercury, Venus and Uranus in Gemini. And also pulls the Moon (the public) into that conjunction. I find this also fascinating. What we see, with Mars on the Descendant is saving lives, what we imagine, with Sun square Neptune, ( as well as Jupiter close to the MC) is a service devoted to sacrifice for others. The reality is lots of little people, often female (Venus), running around doing lots of busy little tasks both to care for people and in administration (Mercury). There is also all the supporting technology (Uranus) as well as the huge dependence on foreign labour. That’s the foundation of the activities which we tend to take for granted.   

We could go on for ever about the details and evolution of the NHS chart, but the only other factor I want to mention is the 2005 move of progressed Uranus from Gemini to Cancer as this perhaps was the beginning of a change in attitudes to the organisation and the move towards the argument that it should be everyone for themselves?

Where we are going

Things aren’t suddenly going to change over night- that is not an astrological observation, just a political one. However things will change, because they can’t continue as they are and because the surrounding environment will become more difficult over time.

At the moment we are right in the middle of the final part of the Uranus Saturn square. Its impact on the NHS isn’t great for sure- it is within orb of square/opposition to the NHS Saturn, and picks up the progressed Mercury and the Moon as well as the Jupiter. It also opposes Chiron in the chart – I don’t often consider Chiron in my work but in medical matters it counts and the opposition isn’t good. However, despite this these aren’t the main players here, yet.

We’ve already mentioned Neptune as a key factor in the plans for change. And as the progressed Sun crosses the Descendant axis properly we can expect the challengers to fully come out of the woodwork.

Neptune will then move on in the next couple of years to square the conjunction at the base of the chart which as we have discussed is all about the day to day activity. If you think things are in disarray now, you “ain’t seen nothing yet”. It will also square the MC/IC axis itself in 2024-5. This will almost certainly change the whole foundation of the service. By 2026 the progressed Sun will square that conjunction too indicating direct challenges for the workers throughout the organisation but at least the picture will be clearer I think.

But even before that, the Pluto quincunx has still to fully make its way through the Gemini conjunction-more resignations and more internal resistance and probably, I am afraid, more unnecessary deaths are likely before it gets straightened out

By mid 2023 Pluto will be quincunx that progressed Uranus as well as progressed Saturn. Expect talk of investment in change to be key- but likely that will be from interested profit seeking “partners.”

But by 2024 Uranus will have reached 23-24 degrees and will be joined by Jupiter in the second house of resources. Expect major changes in how we view our healthcare and how it is delivered and funded then. It may be disruptive but it could be more positive.



But perhaps the most significant shift will be around 2025 when progressed Saturn changes signs to Virgo. This will inevitably change the whole premise of the health service and with a move from Leo it is likely to no longer be the pride of Britain but Saturn in Virgo suggests a whole new level of commitment. One of the reasons I think this is important is that the NHS was born with Saturn close to the UK Saturn – a change of sign takes it away from being core to the UK psyche.

The NHS is definitely a subject that I will revisit in a year or so.