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

1998 Cont 5 - 1999
1998 cont occasioned by the pregnancy; and that there should be a code of practice to ensure
that the welfare of the child is paramount.
The Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health (chairman Sir Donald Acheson)
reviewed the increase in the gap between various indicators of the "healthiness" of those at
the top and bottom of the social scale. Among many recommendations made by the report
were that all government policies likely to affect health should be evaluated in terms of their
impact on health inequalities; that income inequalities should be reduced; living standards of
households receiving social security benefits should be improved; and that high priority
should be given to policies aimed at improving the health of women of childbearing age,
expectant mothers and young children. See 1999.
The Social Exclusion Unit issued reports on "Truancy and School Exclusion", and
"Rough Sleeping", Cm. 4008.
Professor LJ Donaldson succeeded Sir Kenneth Calman as chief medical officer for
England.
The World Health Organization published "Life in the 21st Century: A Vision for All";
and its European Office "Social Determinants of Health: The Solid Facts".
"From Cradle to Grave. Fifty Years of the NHS", by Geoffrey Rivett, published by the
King's Fund, London.
"Public Health. The Vision and the Challenge" by WW Holland and S Stewart
published by the Nuffield Trust.
"General Practice under the National Health Service 1948 - 1997", edited by I Loudon,
J Horder and C Webster, published.
1999 NATO military forces intervened in Kosovo to prevent a genocide of Kosovan
Albanians.
The Scottish Parliament was officially opened; and the Welsh Assembly took over the
functions of the Welsh Office.
House of Lords Act (c.34) removed the right of all but 92 of the hereditary peers to
continue to sit as legislators in the House of Lords.
Greater London Authority Act (c.29) provided for an elected mayor and Assembly for
the Greater London Area.
Local Government Act (c.27) made provision for local and certain other authorities to
be required to ensure the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of their services; and for
further regulation of council taxes and precepts.
Health Act (c.8) proposed the replacement of the fundholding scheme introduced in
1990 by primary care groups, each group to cover a population of about 100,000; the
establishment of a Commission for Health Improvement to provide independent scrutiny of
the standards of clinical care; made provision for payments between health service bodies and
local authorities; and conferred powers to regulate any profession concerned with the
physical or mental health of individuals. Part II of the act dealt with changes to the NHS in
Scotland.
Welfare Reform and Pensions Act (c.30) proposed that all benefit claimants must
attend interviews within three days of making their first claim to discuss entitlement and
reasons for not working, and to obtain help in getting a job; the introduction of stakeholder
pension schemes; the extension of widow's benefit to widowers; and reform of benefits for
the long-term sick, children and young people.
Food Standards and Safety Act (c.28) was concerned with the establishment of a Food