Black Death killed 40% of the population.

New River is opened to take ‘fresh’ water to London

Great Plague led to new laws about plague houses and killing dogs in the street

Gin is made more expensive to improve health and economy as some workers were always drunk

Edwin Chadwick published ‘Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population’ calling for reform.

Public Health Act – Towns allowed to build sewers, organise rubbish removal but not enforced

Cholera outbreak on Broad Street dealt with by John Snow

The Great Stink – It was so bad that the government had to act to improve sanitary conditions

1,300 miles of Sewers are built in London

Compulsory Small Pox Vaccinations are strictly enforced and deaths from Small Pox reduce

Public Health Act - Enforced the rules

Midwives Act – All Midwives had to be fully trained to work

Free School Meals for Poor Children

School health checks for young children

Old Age Pensions Act – Elderly Poor would receive a pension

National Insurance Act – Established free treatment and medicine for workers

Influenza epidemic showed that there were not enough free hospitals

WWII highlighted continuing problem of poverty as evacuated children had generally poor health.

NHS established – free healthcare available to all at the point of delivery

Limits on Tobacco Advertising. Health education and later a full smoking ban in public