Modern Medicine | War
The Outbreak of the First World War also found many volunteers to be too unhealthy to fight for their country.
Lloyd George (again) promised to build a country fit for heroes after the War. He created the Ministry of Health in 1919 to direct and take charge of the health matters. Another law in 1919 demanded that more houses should be made available for the poor. In 1920 another National Insurance Act increased the number of workers who paid into the scheme and who were then protected from ill health or unemployment.
By the Second World War 1939-1945 people’s attitudes had changed towards public health. When children were evacuated to the country there was deep shock at their condition. During the Blitz bombing of London free hospitals were set up.
After the War the nation’s health became a political target. The Government paid Beveridge to look into a free healthcare system.
In 1942 Beveridge’s report set out how to create a free health care system for everyone. His key phrase was about looking after people from ‘cradle to grave.’
He clearly set out that everyone had rights to free of:
- Want (not enough money to live a healthy life)
- Disease
- Ignorance (everyone should have chance to go to school.)
- Squalor (filthy housing)
- Idleness (no work)
This became the foundations of the NHS.
LINKS | 19th C Industrial Revolution: Public Health | Chadwick | Public Health Acts | Snow & Cholera |
LINKS | 20th C: Philanthropists | Wartime | The Liberals | The NHS | Bevan | Beveridge | Anatomy | Surgery |