Public Health Summary

Question 1

First Cholera Outbreak

Answer 1

1831

Question 2

Chadwick Report (1842)

Answer 2

Government asked Chadwick to investigate sanitary conditions; proved link between poor living conditions, disease, and life expectancy; pressured government.

Question 3

Chadwick Report - However

Answer 3

No immediate change; attitudes slow to change; 50,000 still die of cholera.

Question 4

1848 Public Health Act

Answer 4

Set up Board of Health; encouraged local cleaning; allowed for tax-funded medical officers, rubbish removal, and sewer construction.

Question 5

1848 Public Health Act - However

Answer 5

Permissive; some councils did nothing; temporary.

Question 6

John Snow (1832-1854)

Answer 6

Research on cholera; discovered waterborne spread; removed Broad Street pump handle; pressured London water companies.

Question 7

John Snow - However

Answer 7

Before Germ Theory; no scientific proof; little government action; sewage link denied.

Question 8

The Great Stink (1858)

Answer 8

Hot summer revealed sewage in Thames; smell so bad Parliament nearly moved; led to funding for sewers.

Question 9

Bazalgette’s Sewers (1875)

Answer 9

London sewer system completed; helped end major cholera outbreaks.

Question 10

Bazalgette - However

Answer 10

Very expensive; took years; only impacted London.

Question 11

1875 Public Health Act

Answer 11

Councils responsible for clean water, toilets, rubbish removal, sewers; appointed Medical Officers and Sanitary Inspectors.

Question 12

1875 Acts

Answer 12

Artisans’ Dwelling Act (slum clearance); Food and Drug Act (food sanitation); Infectious Disease Act (mandatory reporting).

Question 13

1875 Acts - However

Answer 13

Tackled symptoms not causes; still believed poverty was personal fault.

Question 14

Liberal Reforms - School Meals (

Answer 14

Free school meals introduced. 1906

Question 15

Liberal Reforms - Medical (1907-1912)

Answer 15

Free medical inspections and school clinics.

Question 16

Liberal Reforms - Pensions (1908)

Answer 16

Pensions Act gave 5 shillings to people over 70.

Question 17

Liberal Reforms - National Insurance (1911)

Answer 17

Workers received 10s for 13 weeks; helped avoid debt and maintain health.

Question 18

Why Liberal Reforms?

Answer 18

Boer War fitness; industrial decline; Germany/USA wellness; Labour Party threat; social reform campaigns.

Question 19

Liberal Reforms - However

Answer 19

School meals permissive; pensions not for all; insurance didn’t cover families; not comprehensive.

Question 20

WW2 - Emergency Medical Service (EMS)

Answer 20

Coordinated hospitals.

Question 21

WW2 - Beveridge Report (1942)

Answer 21

Identified 5 giants: want, disease, ignorance, idleness, squalor; proposed solutions.

Question 22

WW2 - Rationing

Answer 22

Improved national diet; better overall health.

Question 23

WW2 - However

Answer 23

EMS/rationing temporary; Conservatives reluctant on reform.

Question 24

Creation of NHS (1948)

Answer 24

Attlee government implemented Beveridge Report; NHS established: free, comprehensive, cradle-to-grave care.

Question 25

NHS - Outcome

Answer 25

Life expectancy improved annually.

Question 26

What was the attitude in the 19th century

Answer 26

Laissez faire