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'.
The report outlined the structure that the NHS would take nearly 30 years later and illustrated that the system would need to change to cope with technological and medical advances.
This Act consolidated local government structures and reformed Poor Law administration, with local authorities becoming responsible for Poor Law hospitals.
