public health provisions Flashcards
key terms
1st public health act - terms
1848: local medical officers appointed to inspect working conditions in factories
- organised collection of rubbish
- building of sewers & access to clean water
“The Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population”
1842 - published by Edwin Chadwick, encouraging the spending of tax money on the poor to keep them healthy and provide clean water
- showed the contrast in cleanliness in urban vs rural areas
- lots of opposition, didn’t want to lessen lassiez faire ideas
1848 public health act impact
- limited impact, only lasted for five years
- only 1/3 of states took part because it was not mandatory
- showed the first time a general board of health was set up in relation to health by government
Sanitary Act
1866 - town councils had to employ people to inspect water supplies, drainage, sewage
Joseph Bazalgette
1858-1875 - designer of the new sewer system in London, as a response to the great stink in the summer of 1858
- also led to significant cholera outbreaks
- encouraged 2nd public health act
2nd public health act - terms
1875: cleaner water supply and sewage management by the government
- better lighting and cleaning of the streets
- housing regulations (eg. tearing down slums), health and sanitary inspectors
2nd public health act - causes
1875: pressure put on the government from towns in wales petitioning to form boards of health
- cholera epidemic and bad water lead to tens of thousands of lives (23,000)
- forced councils to carry out improvements to help with clean water and drainage
2nd public health act - significance
1875 - it was mandatory for all states, local authority forced to do something
- increased the government’s involvement in the public health provisions and standards of the country
- shift in lassiez faire attitude throughout the country
artisans dwelling act
1875 - allowing councils to clear out slums, and build better homes for working families
liberal reforms / public health measures
1906-11:
- free school meals
- board of education to increase awareness of children about hygiene
- school medical services set up, to check students for disease
- 1908 - old age pension
- 1911 national insurance act giving free medical care to employees
–> also helped the unemployed, children, pensioners and workers (most vulnerable)
opposition to the liberal reforms
1906-11
- complaints due to increased taxes, and decrease of traditional lassiez faire attitudes
- workers complained about having to pay into schemes like NIA
- not all people had access to benefits (eg. non. employees = no acess to NIA)
- not universal access to healthcare due to availability, and inconsistent across country
Beveridge Report
1942 - recognised need of government’s help in increasing access to healthcare for people, keeping them healthy
- unemployment benefit, pensions, sick pay recommended, all paid for by taxes
- how lack of healthcare kept ill people poor, recommended national health service
- significant - 95% british population aware of its publication
causes of NHS
- impact of WW2- increased understanding of nutrition and disease, how to make people healthier for fighting
- election of labour government
- 1930s economic issues - WSC&great depression, need for public healthcare that people could afford
- beveridge report
Atlee and Bevan
- 1945 new labour government
- in charge of setting up the NHS
Beginning of NHS
1948, 5 July - NHS Begins
- nationalising over 2500 hospitals over the country
- 90% of doctors involved in this scheme
