Legislation required parishes to levy a 'poor rate' to fund financial support for those who could not work, dependent on the residential qualification of living locally.
Legislation gave the Metropolitan Asylums Board (MAB) additional powers to tackle infectious diseases and removed civil rights from people admitted to an MAB hospital.
Legislation removed the link between the Poor Law and medical assistance, so that people receiving medical assistance no longer faced the stigmatism of pauperism.
Following a lengthy national debate, the Act created a national system of insurance to protect working people against loss of income relating to sickness or unemployment.
This Act established the Ministry of Health, which became responsible for 'the preparation, effective carrying out and co-ordination of measures conducive to the health of the people'.
This Act consolidated local government structures and reformed Poor Law administration, with local authorities becoming responsible for Poor Law hospitals.