Health provision 1918-45

Question 1

Ministry of Health 1919

Answer 1

Responsible for coordinating health at a regional level.
Administered funds raised by National Insurance scheme.

Question 2

Local Government Act 1929

Answer 2

Passed responsibility for Poor Law hospitals to a local level.
Locally responsible for venereal clinics, child welfare, dentistry.

Question 3

Hospitals

Answer 3

Public infirmaries managed by local authorities.
Charitable hospitals relied on public subscriptions.
Specialist teaching hospitals and private hospitals.

Question 4

GPs

Answer 4

Charged for diagnosis and treatment - some treated poorer patients for free, ‘panel’ doctors covered by NI schemes.

Question 5

The Depression

Answer 5

Less than half the population insured against illness by 1929.
Uninsured relied on private insurance - expensive.
Traditional remedies sold over the counter were common.

Question 6

By 1939

Answer 6

1929-39 public health seemed to be improving.
IMR declined - from 14.3/1000 in 1906 to 12/1000 in 1936.
Poorer areas continued to suffer 1920s-1930s MMR was 50% higher in low income groups.

Question 7

Emergency Medical Service 1939

Answer 7

Founded in 1939 to provide first aid and casualty clearing stations for people wounded in air raids.
Allowed the government to dictate provision in all hospitals.
Resulted in the creation of a national system.
Adopted as the basis for plans for a post-war healthcare system - 1948 NHS set up.