Public Health in the 20th Century

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In the 20th century, the government accepted the need to care for all its citizens 'from the cradle to the grave', and there was a greater focus than ever before on the health of the nation

This is in direct contrast to the ‘laissez faire’ attitude of the government in the 19th century

From the Cradle to the Grave

The most important factor in the 20th century was therefore GOVERNMENT

INDIVIDUALS were also important e.g. Lloyd George Prime Minister during the Liberal Reforms, and

after the war with the ‘homes fit for heroes’ programme. Aneurin Bevan Minister for Health in 1948 and driving force

behind the setting up of the NHS. William Beveridge – author of the Beveridge Report 1942

which outlined plans for the Welfare State

WAR – was also important – WW1 and WW2 created the desire amongst the people for a fairer and more equal country

ECONOMY was also important as economies recovering after the wars were able to afford better public health care

FACTORS

From 1906 to 1914 the Liberal Government passed the Liberal Reforms- reforms to help reduce poverty. Legislation included the introduction of old age pensions, free school meals, National Insurance and labour exchanges

1918: After the First World War, the British Prime Minister Lloyd George promised the soldiers returning from the battlegrounds of Europe 'homes fit for heroes'. The government set itself a target of building half-a-million decent homes by 1933.

1919: A Ministry of Health was set up to look after sanitation, health care and disease, as well as the training of doctors, nurses and dentists, and maternity and children's welfare.

Key Steps 1

1934 Free School Milk Act encouraged local councils to give poor children free school meals.1942: During the Second World War, the need to give people something to fight for led the government to commission up the Beveridge Report. Beveridge recommended a Welfare State, which would provide social security, free health care, free education, council housing and full employment.

Key Steps 2

1946: The New Towns Act planned new towns such as Stevenage and Newton Aycliffe to replace the inner-city slums.

5 July 1948: The 'appointed day' for the start of the National Health Service. Gave free health care at the point of need for everyone to be paid for via National Insurance scheme – everyone entitled regardless of whether they had paid in

1956: The Clean Air Act imposed smokeless zones in cities and reduced smog.

Key Steps 3

In Section A If the sources question is on Public Health you will need to be

ready for a Factors part d question – excellent examples of GOVERNMENT and INDIVIDUALS here

In Section B You may be asked to choose either the 19th or 20th century or

two different periods – which period saw most progress in public health or which period dealt best with a public health problem? – describe, explain, compare, evaluate

You may be asked to choose between two factors e.g. Individuals and Government and evaluate which was more important to improvements in public health

You may be asked to compare and evaluate two sets of measures e.g. Liberal Reforms 1906-14, or the National Health Service 1948

Possible Questions on Public Health