A Chronology of State Medicine, Public Health, Welfare and Related ...

Industrial Fatigue Research Board (chaired by Sir Charles Sherrington, see 1906)
formed. Name changed to the Industrial Health Research Board in 1928.
Acute encephalitis became notifiable.
1918 Cont - 1919
1918 cont In "Some Notes on Medical Education in England", Cd.9124, Sir George
Newman (see 1915) considered that there was too little medical teaching of university
standard; insufficient coordination between subjects and departments and between medical
education and medical research; and that post-graduate study of medicine needed organising.
He was critical of the lack of education in preventive medicine and the promotion of health.
He listed a number of "vital elements of personal and public health" that were omitted from
the teaching and examinations in most medical schools. These included the principles of
epidemiology, vital statistics, hospital provision and management, the relation of poverty to
disease, factory hygiene, industrial poisoning, and the duties of medical practitioners in
respect of preventive medicine. See 1923.
1919 Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act (9&10 Geo.V, c.71) allowed women to be elected
to Parliament, to be members of many professions including the Bar, and to be members of
juries, provided they qualified on age and as householders.
Ministry of Health Act (9&10 Geo.V, c.21) established the Ministry "to take all such
steps as may be desirable to secure the preparation, effective carrying out and co-ordination
of measures conducive to the health of the people". It took over the functions of the Local
Government Board, the Insurance Commissioners and all duties relating to midwives and
infant life protection. In addition to its health functions the new ministry became responsible
for the poor law, national insurance, local government, planning, housing, environmental
health, and roads. The Board of Education supervised the school medical services on behalf
of the new ministry. Dr C Addison (1869-1951, later viscount) was the first minister, Sir
Robert Morant (1863-1920) the first permanent secretary, and Sir George Newman (see
1907) the first chief medical officer. See 1951.
Scottish Board of Health Act (9&10 Geo.V, c.20) set up the Scottish Board of Health
which took over the functions of the Local Government Board for Scotland (1894), the
National Health Insurance Commission for Scotland and the Highlands and Islands (Medical
Services) Board (1913) and provided for the appointment of two full-time medical members.
See 1929.
Nurses Registration Act (9&10 Geo.V, c.94) created the General Nursing Council
(1920) and the register of nurses. Similar Acts (c.95 and c.96) applied to Scotland and
Ireland. See 1925.
Housing, Town Planning, Etc. Act (9&10 Geo.V, c.35) was an extensive act dealing
with housing of the working classes; town planning; and provided subsidies to local
authorities to cover the costs of municipal housing schemes. Similar measures introduced in
Scotland by the Housing (Scotland) Act (c.60). See 1923.
Housing (Additional Powers) Act (9&10 Geo.V, c.99) authorised the acquisition of
land for the development of garden cities; and increased the borrowing powers of local
authorities.
Departmental Committee on the Dentists Act, Cmd.33, (chairman, FD Acland)
recommended the prohibition of dental practice by persons who were not registered;
reduction in the minimum time in training and qualification; and the provision of dental
treatment for expectant mothers and for children under 5 years of age, and of school dental
services. See 1921.