The Poor Law dominated the way people of lesser means, the sick, the mentally ill and the disabled were treated in England from 1601 onwards.
Edward Jenner, a British scientist, discovered that vaccinations could be a way of preventing disease.
launched an investigation into the administration of the poor laws in 1832. The commission reported back in March 1834, concluding that poverty was being perpetuated by the provision of relief.
The system of providing support to the poor was overhauled by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, widely dubbed the ‘new Poor Law’. The act grouped parishes into poor law unions under 6
The 1836 Registration Act established the General Register Office and a new system of national registration of births, marriages and deaths to take effect from 1837.
As part of the fifth annual report of the Poor Law Commissioners, work was undertaken to review the prevalence of fever in London.
The act permitted Poor Law guardians to appoint medical officers to vaccinate people at the public expense (ie a free service for the individual concerned).
The 1841 act made free vaccination available outside of Poor Law relief.
Edwin Chadwick was commissioned by the government to undertake an investigation into sanitation and make recommendations on improving conditions.
The 1846 Nuisances Removal and Diseases Prevention Act was designed as temporary legislation to help to stem the spread of cholera.
The passing of the Public Health Act (sanitary 1846) led to the establishment of the role of medical officer of health in Liverpool, and William Henry Duncan was appointed in January 1847 to ensure th
