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

1940 - 1941
1940 Food rationing (bacon, butter and cheese) introduced in January, followed by meat
rationing two months later. See 1954.
Report of the Royal Commission on the Distribution of the Industrial Population,
Cmd.6153, (chairman, Sir Montague Barlow) argued for new industrial development,
dispersal of industry and the redevelopment of congested areas. The Report was influential in
the development of new towns. See 1942.
The Factory Inspectorate was transferred from the Home Office to the Ministry of
Labour. See 1948.
Factories (Medical and Welfare Services) Order, No.1325, required companies
involved in war work to provide health and welfare facilities by the employment, whole or
part-time, of medical practitioners, nurses and supervisory staff.
Fifth revision of the International Classification of Diseases introduced. See 1950.
Nation-wide campaign by the Ministry of Health to get children immunised against
diphtheria.
Measles and pertussis became notifiable.
K Landsteiner (1868-1943) and AS Weiner discovered the rhesus factor in the blood.
Mass miniature radiography of the chest first used in screening tuberculosis by P
D'Arcy Hart at University College Hospital, London.
WW Jameson (later Sir, see 1929) succeeded Sir Arthur McNalty as chief medical
officer of England and Wales.
Age Concern, England, founded.
Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust founded.
1941 Owing to the war there was no census in 1941, but the population had been registered
in 1939. During 1941 social surveys were carried out by a group that later became the Social
Survey Division of the Central Office of Information.
Pharmacy and Medicines Act (4&5 Geo.VI, c.42) amended and strengthened the 1933
act; prohibited advertisements for remedies for the relief or cure of nephritis, cataract,
diabetes, epilepsy, glaucoma, paralysis or tuberculosis, and of substances to procure abortion
(see 1967); and required the composition and active ingredients of all medicines on sale
without a prescription to be stated on the container.
The Minister of Health announced the Government's intention to ensure the provision
of a comprehensive hospital service organised on a regional basis and embracing the local
authority and voluntary hospitals. The financing of the hospitals would be by the local
authorities who would receive supporting Treasury grants together with reasonable payments
by patients towards the costs of their treatment either directly, through contributory schemes,
or otherwise. See 1942 and 1944.
The Ministry of Health started a survey of all hospitals, except mental hospitals and
mental deficiency institutions in England and Wales.
A Nursing and Midwives Division was set up at the Ministry of Health with Katherine
Watt (later Dame) as the chief nursing officer.
The British Medical Association issued a report on "Industrial Health in Factories"
stating: "There should be in every factory, large or small, arrangements for the medical
supervision of the workers. Such supervision implies the care of the individual worker in his
industrial environment; the prevention of physical and mental illness; the initial treatment of
sickness or illness; and a medical liaison between the factory and outside medical services".