Public Health Flashcards
What did Chadwick do in 1842?
Published a report called The Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population suggesting it was better to spend money on improving the living conditions of the poor to stop them getting ill.
Why was Chadwick’s work important?
Led to the 1848 Public Health Act
What did the Public Health Act 1848 establish?
The General Board of Health for 5 years, allowing towns to set up local boards.
What powers did local boards have under the Public Health Act 1848?
They could employ a medical officer, remove rubbish, and build sewage systems.
What event in 1858 led to changes in public health legislation?
The Great Stink caused by a hot summer that exposed excrement and rubbish in the Thames.
What was the outcome of the smell in Parliament during the Great Stink?
It led to an act to provide money for a sewer
What did the Public Health Act 1875 make local authorities responsible for?
Supplying clean water, sewage, public toilets, good housing, street lighting, and quality of food.
How did the Public Health Act 1875 change compliance?
It was no longer voluntary; all areas had to comply.
What significant infrastructure was completed in 1875 and how much did it cost?
Bazalgette’s Sewer, a large sewage system taking waste to the Thames
£6.5 million
What did the 1907 Public Health – Education Act establish?
School medical services run by local government.
How many medical inspections did school children receive under the 1907 Act?
Three medical inspections during their school years.
What could school boards do under the 1907 Act?
Act against parents who sent children to school in poor condition.
When was the school medical service available?
Not available until 1912, and some local governments failed to provide it.
What did the 1908 Public Health - Old Age Pensions provide?
Pensions for people over 70 with an annual income of £21 to £31.
How many people were receiving pensions by 1914?
1 million people.
What was a limitation of the 1908 Old Age Pensions?
You could be denied if you were an alcoholic or had been in prison the previous 10 years.
What was the issue with the pension amount provided?
It was 25p per week- only 1/6 of an average man’s weekly wage.
What did the 1909 Public Health Labour Exchanges do?
Places where unemployed people could go and look for work.
Why did some people not like the Liberal Government reforms?
Taxes went up
What did the 1911 Public Health - National Insurance Act provide?
any worker who was sick could receive free medical care and claim sickness benefits.
What was a benefit of the 1911 National Insurance Act?
It was the first time that some people in society had access to a trained doctor and treatment
What was a negative of the 1911 National Insurance Act?
act only applied to workers, not their families and people who were self-employed or unemployed were not covered
What did Beveridge do?
Produced the Beveridge report in 1942 which identified 5 giants in society.
What were the ‘5 giants’ identified by Beveridge in 1942?
Want
Disease
Ignorance (lack of education)
Squalor (living conditions)
idleness (unemployment)
Why was the Beveridge report so important?
Set the foundation for the NHS
When was the NHS set up and who was responsible?
1946 by Bevan (Health minister in the labour government)
Why were doctors initially opposed to the NHS?
They were not able to set their own fees so they may lose money.
What were the life expectancy ages of men and women in 1901 and then 1950?
Men: 1901- 51, 1950-66
Women: 1901- 55, 1950-70
