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7
0
L
Liv Wilson
12/7/2025
History
Public health history
529
•
Dec 7, 2025
•
The Evolution of Public Health Services
L
Liv Wilson
@livwilson_ppsj
1 / 4
The Liberal Revolution: When Government Finally Stepped Up
Your fitness tracker might tell you to hit 10,000 steps today, but imagine if a third of young men couldn't even qualify for military service because they were too unfit and malnourished. That's exactly what happened during the Boer Wars (1899-1902), and it shocked politicians into action.
The Liberal government elected in 1906 didn't just win an election - they kickstarted Britain's welfare state. Before this, if you were poor, sick, or unemployed, you were basically on your own. Surveys by Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree revealed that massive numbers lived in poverty, creating perfect conditions for disease to spread.
Between 1906-1911, the Liberals passed groundbreaking laws that began using tax money to protect citizens from poverty and ill health. This was revolutionary - for the first time, the government accepted responsibility for keeping the nation healthy, not just wealthy.
Key Insight: The shocking military recruitment failures during the Boer Wars proved that a unhealthy population was a national security threat, forcing politicians to act.
Protecting the Next Generation: Children First
Think free school meals are just a nice bonus? In 1906, they were literally lifesavers. The government introduced free school meals for poor families, feeding 3 million children initially and 14 million by 1914 - that's the difference between malnutrition and having energy to learn.
The 1906 Board of Education didn't mess about with hygiene education either. They sent detailed booklets to schools explaining that children needed weekly baths, daily teeth brushing, and clean underwear changed weekly - basic stuff that many families simply couldn't afford or didn't know about.
The School Medical Service launched in 1907, checking kids for everything from ringworm to lice. Health visitors started visiting homes too, though many families still couldn't afford treatment even when problems were discovered. The Children and Young Persons Act of 1908 went further, banning alcohol and tobacco sales to children and making child neglect illegal.
Meanwhile, old age pensions arrived in 1908 for over-70s earning less than £31.50 annually, and Labour Exchanges in 1909 helped unemployed people find work. Regular wages meant regular meals, which meant healthier families.
Remember: These reforms established that government had a duty to protect children's health - a principle that still drives policy today.
The Insurance Revolution: Pay Now, Stay Healthy Later
Picture this: you're feeling rough but you know seeing a doctor will cost money you don't have, so you wait... and wait... until it's too late. That was reality for most working people before 1911, when they relied on homemade remedies or queued at free hospital dispensaries.
The National Insurance Act 1911 changed everything by creating Britain's first health insurance scheme. Workers and employers both paid into the system, and in return, sick workers got free medical care and sickness benefits to keep families afloat when the main earner couldn't work.
This was genuinely revolutionary - the first time many working people had access to trained doctors rather than just hoping for the best. The Act also provided maternity grants for baby essentials and optional unemployment benefits, preventing families from sliding below the poverty line during tough times.
However, the system had major gaps. It only covered workers themselves, not their families, and excluded the unemployed and self-employed. Women barely benefited since most weren't in formal employment, highlighting how even progressive reforms could reinforce inequality.
Think About It: This insurance model proved that collective contribution could provide individual security - the foundation principle behind today's National Insurance system.
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You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
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Most popular content: Public Health Evolution
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4.9/5
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The Evolution of Public Health Services
L
Liv Wilson
@livwilson_ppsj
Ever wondered how Britain went from having no free healthcare to creating the NHS? The early 20th century marked a massive shift in government responsibility for public health, transforming from basic hygiene concerns to comprehensive welfare support that eventually led... Show more
The Liberal Revolution: When Government Finally Stepped Up
Your fitness tracker might tell you to hit 10,000 steps today, but imagine if a third of young men couldn't even qualify for military service because they were too unfit and malnourished. That's exactly what happened during the Boer Wars (1899-1902), and it shocked politicians into action.
The Liberal government elected in 1906 didn't just win an election - they kickstarted Britain's welfare state. Before this, if you were poor, sick, or unemployed, you were basically on your own. Surveys by Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree revealed that massive numbers lived in poverty, creating perfect conditions for disease to spread.
Between 1906-1911, the Liberals passed groundbreaking laws that began using tax money to protect citizens from poverty and ill health. This was revolutionary - for the first time, the government accepted responsibility for keeping the nation healthy, not just wealthy.
Key Insight: The shocking military recruitment failures during the Boer Wars proved that a unhealthy population was a national security threat, forcing politicians to act.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Protecting the Next Generation: Children First
Think free school meals are just a nice bonus? In 1906, they were literally lifesavers. The government introduced free school meals for poor families, feeding 3 million children initially and 14 million by 1914 - that's the difference between malnutrition and having energy to learn.
The 1906 Board of Education didn't mess about with hygiene education either. They sent detailed booklets to schools explaining that children needed weekly baths, daily teeth brushing, and clean underwear changed weekly - basic stuff that many families simply couldn't afford or didn't know about.
The School Medical Service launched in 1907, checking kids for everything from ringworm to lice. Health visitors started visiting homes too, though many families still couldn't afford treatment even when problems were discovered. The Children and Young Persons Act of 1908 went further, banning alcohol and tobacco sales to children and making child neglect illegal.
Meanwhile, old age pensions arrived in 1908 for over-70s earning less than £31.50 annually, and Labour Exchanges in 1909 helped unemployed people find work. Regular wages meant regular meals, which meant healthier families.
Remember: These reforms established that government had a duty to protect children's health - a principle that still drives policy today.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Insurance Revolution: Pay Now, Stay Healthy Later
Picture this: you're feeling rough but you know seeing a doctor will cost money you don't have, so you wait... and wait... until it's too late. That was reality for most working people before 1911, when they relied on homemade remedies or queued at free hospital dispensaries.
The National Insurance Act 1911 changed everything by creating Britain's first health insurance scheme. Workers and employers both paid into the system, and in return, sick workers got free medical care and sickness benefits to keep families afloat when the main earner couldn't work.
This was genuinely revolutionary - the first time many working people had access to trained doctors rather than just hoping for the best. The Act also provided maternity grants for baby essentials and optional unemployment benefits, preventing families from sliding below the poverty line during tough times.
However, the system had major gaps. It only covered workers themselves, not their families, and excluded the unemployed and self-employed. Women barely benefited since most weren't in formal employment, highlighting how even progressive reforms could reinforce inequality.
Think About It: This insurance model proved that collective contribution could provide individual security - the foundation principle behind today's National Insurance system.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user