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

1987 Cont 2 - 1988
1987 cont The King's Fund published "Planned Health Services for Inner London. Back to
Back Planning". The report reviewed current problems of the four regional health authorities
concerned with London and concluded that their plans required a substantial reduction in
their spending in inner London and a 15 per cent reduction in the number of acute beds. See
1992.
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) introduced, based on finished consultant inpatient
episodes (ordinary admissions and day cases, but not outpatients) in NHS hospitals. A
national mammography service screening for breast cancer introduced.
An inquiry (chairwoman, Lord Justice Butler-Sloss) opened into the sexual abuse of
children in Cleveland; reported in 1988.
Degree in occupational therapy started at Christ Church College, Canterbury. This was
the first such degree in England; in 1986 degrees had started at Ulster Polytechnic and at
Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh.
"Improving the Common Weal. Aspects of Scottish Health Services 1900 - 1984",
edited by G. McLachlan, published by the Edinburgh University Press for the Nuffield
Provincial Hospitals Trust in honour of Sir John Brotherston.
"Fitness for Work" by FC Edwards and RI McCallum first published. The book set out
in detail the effects of health on work and standards of fitness required for all varieties of
work.
"Postgraduate Medical Education and Training: The System in England and Wales", by
Robin Dowie, published by the King's Fund; set out the current requirements and
programmes of training for each of the medical, surgical and other specialties.
During the year increasing cash crises in the NHS led to closure of wards, and the
demand to review NHS financing became even more vociferous. The presidents of the Royal
Colleges of Physicians, Surgeons and Obstetricians and Gynaecologists wrote to the prime
minister stating that the NHS had almost reached the point of collapse.
1988 In July the Department of Health and Social Security (1968) split into the Department
of Health and the Department of Social Security.
Local Government Finance Act (c.41) made provision for the replacement of the local
rates by the community charge ("poll tax"); introduced uniform business rates; and new
arrangements for central grants and the capping of expenditure by local authorities. See 1990.
Local Government Act (c.9) introduced compulsory competitive tendering for services
which were the responsibility of local government. See 1989.
Immigration Act (c.14) made further provisions to regulate immigration. See 1996.
Education Reform Act (c.40) (Baker's Act), a major reforming act, which made explicit
the duties of local educational authorities to provide full-time education for those who need it
up to the age of 19, including those with special educational needs and/or learning
difficulties. The act provided for the progressive introduction of a national curriculum
supported by attainment targets and regular assessments; delegated control of their budgets to
all secondary and larger primary schools; allowed all secondary and larger primary schools to
opt out of local authority control (grant maintained schools); established city technical
colleges; defined "further education" as all provision outside schools, to people aged over 16,
of education up to and including A-level and its equivalent; and reorganised the funding of
higher and further education. The act established the National Curriculum Councils, the
School Examination and Assessment Councils, and the Further Educational Funding
Councils for England and Wales. See 1992 and 1993.