Chapter 12 Modern public health Flashcards
When did the Boer War occur?
1899 - 1902
In which region of the world did the Boer War occur?
Southern Africa
During the Boer War, what percentage of men who volunteered for the army were unfit to be soldiers?
40%
In some big British cities during the Boer War, what percentage of men were unfit to be soldiers?
90%
What did the government do after the realisation that many men were unfit to be soldiers in the Boer War?
It set up a special committee to inquire into the “Physical Deterioration of the People”
When did the special committee to look into the deterioration of the people release its report?
1904
According to the 1904 report by the special committee, what was a major cause many men were failing to enter the army?
They led unhealthy lives
Who fought against each other in the Boer War?
The British and the Boers
Who were the Boers?
Descendants of Dutch settlers in Africa
What were some special investigations into the lives of the poor in Britain?
“Life and Labour of the People in London”; “Poverty: A Study of Town Life”
Who wrote “Life and Labour of the People in London”?
Charles Booth
What did “Life and Labour of the People in London” find out about poverty?
Around 30% of Londoners were so poor they didn’t eat properly, despite having full-time jobs
Who wrote “Poverty: A Study of Town Life”?
Seebohm Rowntree
When was “Poverty: A Study of Town Life” published?
1901
What did “Poverty: A Study of Town Life” find out about poverty?
In York, 28% of the population didn’t have the minimum amount of money to live on at some time of their life
How did Germany contribute to fears over the bad state of Britain’s workers?
Germany had a good system of state welfare for workers and was beginning to produce as much coal, iron and steel as Britain
What was a nation-related fear caused by the bad state of Britain’s workers?
Some people feared that the bad state of Britain’s workers could lead to the decline of the country as a great industrial power
How did changing attitudes contribute to the Liberal social reforms?
By the very late 1800s and early 1900s, more people were beginning to feel that the government should take care of those who couldn’t care for themselves.
Who were some Liberal Party politicians who believed direct government action was the way to improve the public health, welfare and productivity of the nation?
Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George
When was the Labour Party founded?
1900
Which party won the 1906 general election?
Liberal Party
Overall, what factors contributed to the Liberal social reforms?
Reports about poverty, the Boer War, changing attitudes, fears for Britain’s industrial power status
When was the School Meals Act passed?
1906
What did the School Meals Act do?
It allowed local councils to provide school meals, poor children getting a free meal
By 1914, how many children were having a free school meal every day?
Over 158,000
When Bradford introduced free school meals, what did research show about the heights of poor and rich children?
Research showed that a poor child, on average, was 9 cm shorter than a rich one
When did the government tell all councils that they should have a school medical service?
1907
When doctors from the school medical service examined children but many parents couldn’t afford treatment, what did the government do?
The government paid for school clinics to be set up with free treatment
When was the Children and Young Person’s Act passed?
1908
What was the Children and Young Person’s Act nicknamed?
“The Children’s Charter”
What did it mean when the Children and Young Person’s Act made children into “protected persons”?
The Act made it illegal for parents to neglect their children or be cruel to them
What did the Children and Young Person’s Act do regarding inspectors?
The Act stated inspectors were to regularly visit any children who had been neglected in the past
What did the Children and Young Person’s Act do regarding children’s homes?
The Act stated children’s homes were to be regularly inspected
What did the Children and Young Person’s Act do regarding young criminals?
The Act stated youth courts and young offenders’ homes were to be set up to keep young criminals away from older ones
What did the Children and Young Person’s Act do regarding children and pubs?
The Act stated children under 14 were not allowed into pubs
What did the Children and Young Person’s Act do regarding young people and cigarettes?
The Act stated shopkeepers could not sell cigarettes to anyone under 16
What happened relating to young women’s health from 1907?
From 1907, special schools were set up to teach young women about the benefits of breastfeeding, hygiene and childcare
What did the National Insurance Act do?
The Act introduced unemployment benefit (“the dole”), free medical treatment and sickness pay
What occurred during the Liberal social reforms regarding pensions?
Old Age Pensions were introduced
What occurred during the Liberal social reforms regarding jobs?
Britain’s first job centres were built
Following the Liberal social reforms, what occurred regarding back-to-back housing?
The building of back-to-back housing was banned
When was it mandatory for local councils to provide health visitors, clinics for pregnant women and day nurseries?
1918
When did councils begin to build new houses for poorer families?
1919
By what year had a large slum clearance programme begun?
1930
When was the National Health Service (NHS) established?
1948
In the modern world, how does the NHS help with healthcare before a baby is born?
Pregnant women will get free treatment and advice at antenatal clinics
How does the NHS help healthcare in regards to hospitals and nurses?
All hospital care and nursing is free
How does a baby receive help with healthcare immediately after it is born in today’s world?
The baby receives cheap milk, food and vitamins if needed
How is a child given help related to school in today’s world?
The child receives a free education and cheap, or free, school meals
How is a child given help in relation to their teeth or eye in today’s world?
The child is given cheap, (or free) dental treatment and eye care
How are children with special needs given help in today’s world?
If a child had a need requiring a special school, for example if they are blind or deaf, this costs the parents nothing
What is the infant mortality rate (explanation)?
The number of babies that die before they are 1 year old for every 1000 babies that are born
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1840?
150
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1850?
158
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1860?
152
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1870?
160
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1880?
140
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1890?
152
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1900?
163
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1910?
110
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1920?
80
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1930?
60
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1940?
55
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1950?
25
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1960?
20
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1970?
17
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1980?
15
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 1990?
6
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 2000?
5
What was the infant mortality rate in Britain in 2010?
4
When did the government launch a campaign to get all children immunised against diphtheria?
1940
What is the welfare state?
The system by which the government helps those in need
Who does the welfare state mainly help?
The old, the sick, the unemployed and children
What is another name for the welfare state?
“Social security”
What does the welfare state in Britain do?
It ensures nobody goes without any basic need simply because they can’t afford it
What are ways the welfare state helps children?
It provides clinics; cheap (or free) milk and foods and school dinners; education; free dental care and spectacles
What are ways the welfare state helps adults and their families?
Free doctors and hospitals; cheap medicines; family allowances; sick pay; unemployment pay or dole; training; pensions for those unable to work; money for those on very small or no incomes; maternity grants
What are ways the welfare state helps elderly people?
Retirement pensions; care homes; home help; meals at home
What is a way the welfare state helps people even after an individuals has died?
Financial help with funeral costs
Where did the most desperate people in absolute poverty end up in Britain before the 20th century?
Workhouses
How did vulnerable people get help before the 20th century in Britain?
They got help from charity organisations or their local church
What was a workhouse?
A large, cold building where people had to work for their food and accommodation
How did the two world wars contribute to the formation of Britain’s welfare state?
People thought the suffering felt abroad and at home meant the future should be much better for them, including an improved healthcare system
How did the evacuation of children from the cities during the Second World War contribute to the formation of Britain’s welfare state?
Many middle-class individuals had been shocked by the state of some of the dirty, undernourished children and felt they should have a better future after the war.
Who wrote the Beveridge Report?
Sir William Beveridge
When was the Beveridge Report published?
1942
The Beveridge Report stated people throughout the country had a right to be free of what “five giants” that could ruin their lives?
Disease, want (need), ignorance, idleness, squalor (very poor living conditions)
How many copies did the Beveridge Report sell in its first month of publication?
Over 100,000
What phrase did the Beveridge Report use when describing how the government should help people?
The report said that the government should “take charge of social security from the cradle to the grave”
When was Sir William Beveridge born and when did he die?
Beveridge was born in 1879 and died in 1963
What was a major reason the Labour Party won the election after World War II despite Winston Churchill, the leader of the Conservative Party, leading the nation through war?
The Labour Party promised to follow Beveridge’s advice while the Conservative Party, led by Winston Churchill, refused to make such a promise
Who led the post-WWII labour government?
Clement Attlee
What did the National Health Service (NHS) do?
It made all medical treatment - doctors, hospitals, ambulances, dentists and opticians, free to all who wanted it
What did the post-WWII government do to help families?
A weekly family allowance payment was introduced to help with childcare costs
What did the post-WWII government do to help the poor?
The very poor received financial help or “benefits”
What did the post-WWII government do to improve the education system?
The school leaving age was raised to 15 and more free university places were created
What did the post-WWII government do to improve housing?
The government’s programme of “slum clearance” continued and new homes were built
By 1948, how many council homes were being built each year?
280,000
Why was the NHS scheme originally opposed by doctors?
As doctors wouldn’t be able to charge what they wanted for their services, many believed their income would decrease
In a survey of around 45,000 doctors, how many didn’t want a National Health Service?
Nearly 41,000
Who was the Minister of Health of Clement Attlee’s government?
Aneurin Bevan
How did Aneurin Bevan win over doctors to the idea of a National Health Service?
He promised them a salary and promised they would be allowed to treat private patients as well
Up until 1948, how many people had never seen a doctor because they couldn’t afford to?
Around 8 million people
How likely are women to consult a doctor compared to men now?
Women are now 4 times more likely to consult a doctor than men
How has life expectancy risen for women since 1948?
Life expectancy for women has risen from 66 to 83 since 1948
How has life expectancy risen for men since 1948?
Life expectancy for men has risen from 64 to 79 since 1948
Where was the life expectancy for newborn baby boys highest in the UK in 2014 and what was it?
Wealthy London areas of Kensington and Chelsea (83.3 years)
Where was the life expectancy for newborn baby boys lowest in the UK in 2014 and what was it?
Blackpool (74.7 years)
What is a likely reason life expectancy is less in Blackpool that Kensington and Chelsea?
Blackpool has far less wealth than Kensington and Chelsea
How was the NHS funded by workers who received its services?
All workers had to pay for NHS service through taxation
What are some things working people today have to pay for to get from the NHS?
Working people today have to pay for doctors’ prescriptions and dental treatment
What are some services the NHS ensures no one is deprived of because they can’t afford it?
Family planning, physiotherapy, child care, cancer screening, asthma clinics and minor surgery
What are some issues the NHS has in the modern day?
Waiting lists seem to be getting longer, doctors and nurses are overworked
What is the fundamental cause behind the modern problems of the NHS (some examples too)?
A lack of money
When was tobacco advertising banned?
2005
When was smoking in all enclosed public spaces banned?
2007
When were drivers in England banned from smoking in cars while carrying children as passengers?
2015
When did the British government unveil plans to introduce a “sugar tax”, increasing the cost of high-sugar drinks?
2016
What is a modern example of technology being used to improve the health and wellbeing of people?
“Digital therapy” is designed for patients who need at-home care or who can’t travel to a doctors surgery or hospital
