edwin chadwick

• 1832 - The prime minister makes a commission to investigate the provisions that cared for the poor. Chadwick given a leafing role
• Chadwick recommends major changes to workhouses, leading to the Poor Law Amendment Act in 1834, which began improving the conditions of workhouses
• cholera was a massive problem in Britain and in 1837 and 1838 there were typhoid epidemics in major cities, leading to Chadwick being appointed to investigate the state of Britain's major cities
• chadwick's 1842 report: found that living conditions for the working class were terrible and that poor sanitation led to disease, this meant

  • sickness stopped the economy from prospering
  • he recommended improving drainage and sewers
  • ensured there was clean water and no rubbish on the streets
  • appointed inspectors to monitor public health
• 1848 Public Health Act:

  people realized the conservative govt.'s belief in laissez-faire was too strong, and after the 1847 cholera outbreak, the new liberal government passed the public health act led by Lord Russel
• conditions of the PHA (1848):

  • made the National Health Board
  • encouraged local councils to improve public health (but they could refuse)
  • councils can appoint medical officers and boards of public health (but they can refuse)
  • government could force local councils to improve water supply and sewerage (but were reluctant to do so)
  • sanitation commissioner was appointed to help clean the streets.