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

1972 Cont 4 - 1973
1972 cont King Edward's Hospital Fund for London formed the King's Fund College by
amalgamating its former staff colleges.
The Committee of Enquiry into the Governance of London University (chairman, Lord
Murray), set up by the University and the University Grants Committee, reported in favour of
continuing the federal system; rejected the suggestion for the groupings of the 16 medical and
18 non-medical schools into 6 or so large groups; and recommended changes in the central
administration of the University. See 1980.
The Welsh National School of Medicine introduced a bachelor of nursing degree. See
1974.
A satisfactory plastic replacement of the hip joint was reported on by John Charnley.
Computerised Tomography developed by Electrical Musical Industries (EMI).
The Royal College of General Practitioners published "The Future General
Practitioner: Learning and Training". See 1976.
"Effectiveness and Efficiency: Random Reflections on Health Services", by Archie
Cochrane (1909-88, director of the Medical Research Council's Epidemiology Unit at Cardiff
and first president of the Faculty of Community Medicine), published by the Nuffield
Provincial Hospitals Trust.
"International Journal of Epidemiology" first published.
Unemployment rose to above one million, and a compulsory freeze on prices and
wages was introduced as a severe financial crisis developed. See 1980.
During the year there were a series of strikes of the ancillary staff in the NHS.
1973 Britain joined the European Community. International oil crisis.
National Health Service Reorganisation Act (c.32) legislated for the restructuring of the
NHS along the lines set out in the 1972 White Paper; the school health service became the
responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Security; and the act made provision
for the appointment of a Health Service Commissioner empowered to investigate complaints
about the Service, other than those arising from the exercise of clinical judgement. Later Sir
Alan Marre was appointed Commissioner. See 1974 and 1976.
Local Government (Scotland) Act (c.65) restructured local government in Scotland by
creating 9 regional councils, 3 island councils and 53 district councils; abolished the office of
bailie; and created optional community councils, with no statutory functions, to ascertain,
coordinate and express to public authorities the views of their communities. See 1975.
Employment of Children Act (c.24) amended the law and laid down national
regulations regarding employment of persons under the compulsory school leaving age. See
1989.
Matrimonial Causes Act (c.18) consolidated and amended previous acts concerning
divorce, nullity and financial relief for parties to marriage and the children. See 1984.
Water Act (c.37) set out a national policy for water, including the supply of water;
sewerage and sewage disposal; land drainage; river management; fisheries; and recreation. It
established 9 Regional Water Authorities and the National Water Council in England, and in
Wales the Welsh National Water Development Authority, to take over the relevant duties of
the river authorities and the local government authorities, although the latter continued to
have functions for sewerage as agents for the water authority. In Scotland water supply was
placed under the regional councils. See 1983.
Employment and Training Act (c.50) reorganised the Department of Employment and
Productivity; and created the Manpower Services Commission, the Employment Service