Edwin Chadwick, an English social reformer was particularly well known for his work based upon reforming the poor laws of the time, with Nassau William senior he drafted a report in 1834 to create an organized system of public health, and to improve sanitation services for the general public. In 1842 he wrote the sanitary report of ‘the labouring population’ which promoted safe disposal of human waste and rubbish.
John snow (1813-1858)-
John snow was a British physician who became known as one the founding fathers of epidemiology within the United Kingdom. He was a respected anaesthetist and was a strong supporter of hygienic practices and cleanliness.
The poor law act (1834) –
The poor law act of 1834 was an act of the parliament made under the lord earl grey that reformed the country’s poverty relief system, this hadn’t been changed since 1601 and arose as a result of the findings of the social reformers Edwin Chadwick, George Nichols and Nassau William senior who had been commissioned in 1832 to look at the operation of the poor laws, judgments or means testing people under these laws had previously meant that people went to the work house if they were unable to support themselves. Many people died due to harsh working and living conditions and poor health.
The National Health Service –
The national health service of 1948 like today treated every citizen regardless and more fairly without means testing which was the case previously. The National Health Service had provided health care and has helped many people over the years, it is something we can justifiably be proud of, however ‘postcode lottery’ availability of assessment and treatment for some kinds of illnesses and diseases like cancer and dementia have caused.
The Acheson Report (1998)-
In 1998 a government health report was commissioned to look at ‘inequalities’ in health, sir Donald Acheson’s report identified and made the link between health and mortality. His evidence suggested that social class and deprivation were factors in early death rates. The report highlighted the widening ‘health’ divide between people who have high incomes and those who do not. Statistics revealed that people who have high incomes and those who do not.
Statistics revealed that people in social class V (party skilled workers and unskilled workers) were more likely to die from coronary and lung related illnesses due to lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking and inadequate or poorly nutritious diets than people in social class 1 such as professional, managerial workers for instance doctors, and lawyers.
The 21st century –
The government set up a ten year programme of reforms in a white paper called the new NHS this was put into place as the NHS place in July 2000. The main points included creation of approximately 500 primary care groups, teams of GP’s and community nurses, covering populations of 100,000 to take responsibility of the NHS budget from April 1999. These primary care trusts will provide all the normal GP services as well as taking over the running of local community hospitals.
