BIG PUBLIC HEALTH
1918-31
HEALTHCARE IN 1918
1911 – established compulsory national health insurance scheme for low-paid
employees
o Provided sick pay + free medical treatment
o Didn’t cover unemployed or earner’s family
Some voluntary charities (+ voluntary hospitals) / philanthropic groups
Poor Law → provided some medical care (Poor Law hospitals)
1919 MINISTRY OF HEALTH ACT
Established 1st Ministry of Health + created Medical Research Council (MRC) =
publicly funded
o MRC investigated causes of TB
1921 TUBERCULOSIS ACT
Provision of TB sanatoria by local authorities = compulsory
o TB cases declined every year from 1920→1938
SUPPORT FOR GOV REFORM
Fabian Soc (socialist think tank) → advocated centralising healthcare
1919 Labour = 1st party to advocate free + comprehensive healthcare system
British Medical Association (BMA) → advocated regional system (co-ordinated by
gov)
1920 Dawson Report = gov-commissioned → recommended regional, state-
funded hospitals
1926 Royal Commission on National Health Insurance, recommended:
o Regional structure of healthcare
o Compulsory health insurance scheme
1929 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT
Passed responsibility from Poor Law hospitals → country + borough councils
o Allowed them to convert Poor Law infirmaries (only for poor) into public
hospitals
Gave local authorities other responsibilities – e.g., child welfare, dentistry,
school meals etc
Chamberlain’s act → reorganisation of healthcare = regional basis + centralised
country/ borough coordination
However, → < ½ pop. insured against illness in 1929
o Uninsured forced to rely on private heal insurance → usually insufficient
1931-39
1935 VOLUNTARY HOSPITALS COMMISSION
Argued gov should merge voluntary hospitals + local authority hospitals
1918-31
HEALTHCARE IN 1918
1911 – established compulsory national health insurance scheme for low-paid
employees
o Provided sick pay + free medical treatment
o Didn’t cover unemployed or earner’s family
Some voluntary charities (+ voluntary hospitals) / philanthropic groups
Poor Law → provided some medical care (Poor Law hospitals)
1919 MINISTRY OF HEALTH ACT
Established 1st Ministry of Health + created Medical Research Council (MRC) =
publicly funded
o MRC investigated causes of TB
1921 TUBERCULOSIS ACT
Provision of TB sanatoria by local authorities = compulsory
o TB cases declined every year from 1920→1938
SUPPORT FOR GOV REFORM
Fabian Soc (socialist think tank) → advocated centralising healthcare
1919 Labour = 1st party to advocate free + comprehensive healthcare system
British Medical Association (BMA) → advocated regional system (co-ordinated by
gov)
1920 Dawson Report = gov-commissioned → recommended regional, state-
funded hospitals
1926 Royal Commission on National Health Insurance, recommended:
o Regional structure of healthcare
o Compulsory health insurance scheme
1929 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT
Passed responsibility from Poor Law hospitals → country + borough councils
o Allowed them to convert Poor Law infirmaries (only for poor) into public
hospitals
Gave local authorities other responsibilities – e.g., child welfare, dentistry,
school meals etc
Chamberlain’s act → reorganisation of healthcare = regional basis + centralised
country/ borough coordination
However, → < ½ pop. insured against illness in 1929
o Uninsured forced to rely on private heal insurance → usually insufficient
1931-39
1935 VOLUNTARY HOSPITALS COMMISSION
Argued gov should merge voluntary hospitals + local authority hospitals
