GCSE History MEDICINE -- 1900s

The National Insurance Act

Set up in 1911
Workers earning less that £160 a year were expected to join
Contributions were made by employers, workers and the government
The act provided free medical treatment and medicine
The act also provided sick pay for up to 6 months and support payment for up to 15 weeks if unemployed
Women and Children were not covered by the act and so often delayed getting treatment due to the cost

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Set up in 1919
Gave the Government an overview of health care provision in the whole country
Important step in the Government taking responsibility for people's health care
However, provision continued to be a mix of private care, local authorities providing some support and many hospitals relying on charity funding

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Raised awareness on the effect of poverty on health
Many disovered evacuees from towns were not used to running water or toilets
Evacuees often had lice, nits or skin infections
This created a desire for higher public health standards after the war and the establishment of the NHS
The war effetced people's diets, as there were rations on fats, sugars and more
People were encouraged ot eat more vegeatbles, having a positive effect on the malnourished poor

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The poverty that evacuees lived in shocked many, creating the want for an improved country with better conditions for all
The organisation of hospitals and nurses had worked successfully during the war
The Beveridge Report in 1942 identified disease as a problem for the government agter WWII
Significant medical breakthroughs meant more could be done for the sick
The was more acceptance of the government's role in people's lives by the mid-20th century

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Bevan was the Minister for Health in the post-war Labour government and had a huge part in the NHS
The Beveridge Report suggested that the government improve public health
The new Labour government accepted the recommendations and began to plan the NHS
Bevan faced opposition from many people, including doctors who did not want to lose income from private patients
He publicised his ideas and persuaded patients to ask to be registered under the NHS
This pressured doctors to join the NHS or lose patients
The NHS was launched in 1948

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The taxes used to fund the NHS helped to provide for a wide range of care, significantly improving the accessibility of medical care and facilities and greatly benefiting the poorest in society. Provision included...
The right to see a GP and hospital referral
Treatment from dentists and opticians
Health care for preganat women and young children
Ambulances and emergency treatment
Health care for the elderly
HOWEVER, the NHS cost more than expected, so prescription charges were introduced in 1951

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A deeper understanding of disease and effect of lifestyle led to a wider role for the government, e.g...
Vaccine developments, like the polio vaccine in the mid-1950s and the cervical cancer vaccine in 2008
Government campaigns and laws on health issues like smoking
Promotion of healthy diets
Better rubbish disposal and sewage treatment
Laws to reduce air and water pollution e.g the 1956 Clean Air Act
Laws to improve working conditions e.g health and safety regulations about asbestos in the workplace
Environmental health officers to inspect restaurants, cafes etc.
Laws on food safety in 1990 after salmonella outbreak etc.

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