Public Health 1918-1939

Question 1

What was healthcare like pre-1918

Answer 1

Liberal Government had taken great steps to providing healthcare for the nation with the introduction of national health insurance for low paid employees.

Question 2

What did the 1911 National Health Insurance Act do

Answer 2

• Introduced a scheme to pay for medical treatment and sick pay for workers earning under £160 per year.
• Only applied to wage earners, not the unemployed or families of the employed

Question 3

What healthcare existed pre-1911

Answer 3

• Low-paid workers had to rely on the generosity of charities and philanthropy
• Victorian Poor Laws provided medical aid with Poor Law Hospitals
• Workhouses had infirmaries that were accessible to the poor

Question 4

What was the consensus during the interwar years

Answer 4

A general consensus was reached that the government should do the following:

• Invest in research
• Invest in medical training
• Organise a national network of hospitals
• Play a role in rationing healthcare

Question 5

Which government branch was introduced during 1919

Answer 5

The Ministry of Health

Question 6

What was the purpose of the Ministry of Health

Answer 6

Coordinated health at a regional level and redistributed funds for NHI (National Health Insurance) schemes

Question 7

Which health act was passed in 1929

Answer 7

The Local Government Act

Question 8

What did the 1929 Local Government Act do

Answer 8

• Gave poor law hospitals to local authorities

- Gave local authorities increased control of healthcare and schools e.g areas such as dentistry or school meals

Question 9

How did infant mortality rates change from 1906-10 to 1936-38

Answer 9

The dropped from 14.3 per 1,000 people to 12 per 1,000 people