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

A survey of family expenditure was started on behalf of the Department of
Employment.
Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme introduced in an attempt to reduce the costs of
drugs prescribed within the National Health Service. See 1959.
Mass campaign to detect pulmonary tuberculosis began in Scotland; during the
following two years about half of the adult population in Scotland were x-rayed. See 1968.
Epidemic of "Asian" influenza (A2 strain). See 1958.
Large scale trials of a live attenuated poliomyelitis vaccine developed by A Sabin
began. See 1962.
Interferon discovered by A Isaacs and Jean Lindenmann.
A fire at the Windscale atomic works released radioactive material into the atmosphere
necessitating the banning of the sale of milk from a large area around Windscale. See 1986.
1957 Cont 2 - 1958
1957 cont The Association of Public Sanitary Inspectors changed its name to the Association
of Public Health Inspectors. See 1974.
The Society for Social Medicine (1956) held its first annual scientific meeting. See
1972.
University of Leicester founded.
"Uses of Epidemiology", by JN Morris (see 1948), first published.
"The Doctor, his Patient and the Illness", by M Balint (psychiatrist at the Tavistock
Clinic, London) published. This book had considerable influence among general
practitioners.
1958 Life Peers Act (6&7 Eliz.II, c.21) made provision for the creation of male and female
life peers with a right to sit and vote in the House of Lords. See 1999.
Local Government Act (6&7 Eliz.II, c.55) empowered the Government to set up the
Local Government Commission to review local government areas outside Greater London
and to propose changes; and authorised the delegation, with the consent of the minister, by
county councils of certain health and welfare functions to boroughs or urban districts with
populations of 60,000 or more. See 1969.
Housing (Financial Provisions) Act (7 Eliz.II, c.42) provided grants for improvements
to private houses. See 1961.
Optician Act (6&7 Eliz.II, c.32) established the General Optical Council; and provided
for the registration and training of opticians; for disciplinary proceedings; and for restrictions
on sight-testing and the supply of optical appliances. See 1989.
Children's Act (6&7 Eliz.II, c.65) amended and consolidated provisions for the
protection of foster children. See 1975.
Adoption Act (7 Eliz.II, c.5) consolidated previous acts. See 1975.
Disabled Persons (Employment) Act (6&7 Eliz.II, c.33) extended the 1944 act by
changing the minimum age for training from sixteen years or over to being over compulsory
school age; and made the powers of local authorities to provide sheltered employment subject
to the approval of the minister. See 1970 and 1979.
Water Act (6&7 Eliz.II, c.67) empowered certain actions to be taken to meet
deficiencies in the supply of water during droughts. See 1963
Slaughterhouses Act (6&7 Eliz.II, c.70) required local authorities to be satisfied that
the premises were hygienic and that there was no cruelty to animals before granting or
renewing licences; and dealt with the health, safety and welfare of persons employed in
slaughterhouses and knackers yards. See 1974.