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

1950 – 1951
1950 Korean war started, ended in 1953.
Medical Act (14 Geo.VI c.29) introduced the requirement for recently qualified doctors
to serve a pre-registration year; and provided for the setting up of a disciplinary committee of
the General Medical Council. See 1978.
Midwives (Amendment) Act (14 Geo.VI, c.13) reconstituted the Central Midwives
Board and the Scottish Board. See 1951.
Housing (Scotland) Act (14 Geo.VI, c.34) major act concerning the repair of houses,
clearance areas and related bylaws. See 1966.
Shops Act (14 Geo.VI, c.28) set out hours of work, and minimum health, safety and
welfare conditions to be enforced by the local authorities. See 1963.
Diseases of Animals Act (14 Geo.VI, c.36) consolidated legislation regulating aspects
of diseases of animals which threaten human populations. See 1981.
Ministry of Health issued a memorandum on "The Development of the Consultant
Services"; and set up a Committee on the Internal Administration of Hospitals. See 1954.
Department of Health for Scotland established an Advisory Committee on Medical
Research.
Dr (later Sir) John Charles succeeded Sir Wilson Jameson as chief medical officer at
the Ministry of Health.
The final report of the Nursing Reconstruction Committee (see 1949) advised that
bedside work was an essential part of training; that hospitals should not exploit students; parttime
work should be encouraged; and nurses should be involved in developing policy. See
1952.
Sixth revision of the International Classification of Diseases introduced. See 1955.
"Cancer Registration in England and Wales. An Inquiry into Treatment and Results" by
P Stocks published by the General Register Office.
First report on the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer published by R Doll
and AB Hill (British Medical Journal, 2, 739-748). See 1956.
The British Medical Association published a report on "General Practice and the
Training of the General Practitioner". See 1954.
J Collings, a general practitioner from New Zealand commissioned by the Nuffield
Provincial Hospitals Trust, reported on general practice in England (Lancet, 1, 555-579). He
found considerable variations in standards of premises, equipment and practice. See 1953.
Start of nuclear medicine - the use of radioactive tracers in diagnosis and therapy; later
recognized as a medical specialty.
"A History of English Public Health 1834-1939" by WM Frazer (professor of public
health and medical officer of health, Liverpool) published.
Leonard Cheshire Trust founded.
1951 Census (8-9 April) collected additional data on fertility, education and availability of
household amenities, and introduced new socio-economic groups in the analyses. Tabulations
based on one per cent samples were published in 1952. Population of England and Wales
estimated at 43.8 million, with 22 per cent aged under 15 years and 11 per cent aged 65 or
over.
National Health Service Act (14&15 Geo.VI, c.31) authorised charges for dental and
optical appliances. See 1966.
Midwives Act (14&15 Geo.VI, c.53) consolidated previous legislation; reformed the
Central Midwives Board; placed a duty on county and county borough councils to act as local