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

1997 Cont 2 - 1988
1997 cont competence in teaching should become a requirement for promotion; and that the
proportion of young people attending higher education should be increased.
"Transforming Health in London", published by the King's Fund, repeated the
recommendation of the previous report (1992) to reshape London's health services; proposed
that a new health office with responsibility to regulate health services in London should be
established within the new government office for London; that local health strategies should
be developed with the local authorities; that there should be a pooling of the budgets of the
hospital, community health, family practitioner and social care services; and a review of the
medical work force and training policy focusing on the need for joint professional education.
See 1998.
An Audit Commission's report, "First Class Delivery: Improving Maternity Services in
England and Wales", concluded that the services were becoming more "women centred";
recommended that midwives' work should be organised to maximise continuity of care; and
questioned the reasons for the wide variation in the number of routine antenatal visits
between and within districts.
The Society of Public Health (see 1989) merged with the Royal Institute of Public
Health and Hygiene (see 1937).
Professor John Swales succeeded Sir Michael Peckham as director of research and
development in the Department of Health. See 1999.
The Office for National Statistics published "The Health of Adult Britain 1841-1994"
edited by J Charlton and M Murphy.
The International Poverty and Health Network was created following a series of
conferences organised by WHO with the aim of integrating health aspects into plans to
eradicate poverty.
"The Genesis of the Faculty of Community Medicine" by Michael Warren published.
The book included an account of the enlarging and changing responsibilities of public health
departments within local government; the transfer of many of these functions to the NHS in
1974; and of the consequential changes in specialist training introduced by the new Faculty.
1998 Human Rights Act (c.42) enshrined the European Human Rights Convention into
British law; to come into force in 2000.
Scotland Act (c.46) established the Scottish Parliament and set out its procedures and
administration. See 1999.
Government of Wales Act (c.38) established the National Assembly for Wales, the
offices of Auditor General for Wales and Welsh Administration Ombudsman, and made
related provisions. See 1999.
Greater London Authority (Referendum) Act (c.3) enabled a referendum to be held for
the creation of an elected mayor of London. See 1999.
Regional Development Agencies Act (c.45) made provision for regional development
agencies in England.
Crime and Disorder Act (c.37) created certain race related offences; allowed local
government councils to issue an injunction for anti-social behaviour including harassment,
alarm and distress; made further provisions for dealing with offenders, remands, releases and
recalls of prisoners; and abolished the death penalty for treason and piracy.
School Standards and Framework Act (c.31), a major act, enabled the Secretary of
State to impose a limit on class sizes for infant classes in schools; required every local
education authority to prepare an education development plan; established education action