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

Cmd.9333, (chairman, Sir Thomas Phillips) recommended retaining the system of financing
pensions largely by contributions, the payment of which was a condition of receiving the
benefit. A majority recommended raising the retirement age for men to 68 and for women to
63.
The General Register Office published "Measurement of Morbidity" setting out
definitions of rates of inception, prevalence and fatality rates and of measures of duration.
"Good General Practice", by Stephen Taylor (later Lord, 1910-88), described the
conditions in selected "good" practices, as a counterbalance to the Collings' report (1950).
1954 Cont – 1955
1954 cont Mass trial started in the USA of the Salk vaccine against poliomyelitis. See 1955.
First successful kidney transplant carried out in the USA. See 1956.
Contraceptive pill, norethynodrel, developed. See 1956.
In July food rationing, introduced in 1940, ended.
The first large number of West Indian immigrants arrived in London.
University of Hull founded.
1955 Food and Drugs Act (3&4 Eliz.II, c.16) consolidated legislation relating to the sale of
food to the public, prevention of food poisoning, milk, dairies, markets, and slaughter houses.
See 1956.
Ministry of Food abolished with the transfer of most of its functions to the new
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Royal Commission on the Civil Service, Cmd.9613, (chairman, Sir Raymond
Priestley) made recommendations about pay, hours of work and leave. See 1968.
Seventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases published. See 1958.
Working Party on the Training of District Nurses (chairman, Sir Frederick Armer,
1891-1983, civil servant) reported. See 1959.
A Sub-Committee (chairman, Sir Hugh Linstead) of the Standing Pharmaceutical
Advisory Committee recommended improvements in the status and organisation of
pharmaceutical services within hospitals.
Committee on Statutory Provisions for Industrial Diseases, Cmd.9548, (chairman, FW
Beney) considered that the current list of industrial diseases should be continued. An
appendix to the report listed the prescribed diseases. See 1961.
Committee on Slaughter Houses, Cmd.9613, (chairman, R Herbert) reported. See 1958.
First National Morbidity Survey, based on records kept by doctors in a sample of
general practices, began. The results were published by WPD Logan and AA Cushion in
1958.
Outbreak in the USA of 260 cases of vaccine-associated poliomyelitis, with 10 deaths
and 192 paralytic cases. Ninety four of the cases occurred in vaccinated persons, 126 in
family contacts and 40 in community contacts. This incident, known as the Cutter incident
(after the manufacturer of the vaccine) led to the temporary suspension of the vaccination
programme. See 1956.
The General Medical Council revised its Rules as to Courses of Study and
Examinations for Diplomas in Sanitary Science, Public Health or State Medicine (see 1945),
and removed the requirement for a preliminary course and certificate, but retained a detailed
syllabus. See 1967.
The Society of Medical Officers of Health published “The Functions of the Medical
Officer of Health”, which set out in detail the statutory duties of medical officers of health in
counties, county boroughs and district authorities.