Public Health Acts
The Public Health Act 1848
-General Board of Health set up, reported to parliament
-local authorities empowered to set up a local board of health where:
-10% of ratepayers wanted one
-death rate was greater than 23 per 100
-local boards of health permitted to appoint a medical officer
-local boards to manage sewers, drains, wells, slaughter houses, baths etc
-permissive
Public Health Act 1858
-General Board of Health abolished
-powers of the General Board of Health were given to a new Local Govt Act
-medical department of the Privy Council set up
-local boards of health given the power to take preventative action and appoint officials
Sanitary Act 1866
-powers given to local boards of health under the 1848 Act were now available in all local boards
-local authorities made responsible for removing ‘nuisances’ to public health, if the local authorities did not, the central govt would, and the local authorities would be fined
-local authorities were able to move/demolish slums
Public Health Act 1875
-consolidated previous laws
-every part of the country had to have a public health authority
-every public health authority had to have at least 1 medical officer and 1 sanitary inspector
-ensure laws on food, housing, water supplies and cleansing were enforced
-local authorities were given wide powers to lay sewers and drains, build reservoirs, parks, public baths and public conveniences
-govt now completely committed
-turning point in housing, established standards of street widths and open space
Public Health Act 1936
-consolidated previous legislation
-local authorities had immediate responsibility over sanitation, nuisances, baths, washhouses, prevention and notification of disease
-local authorities had control over slaughterhouses and food adulteration
-local authority took control of water supplies