Impact of World War 2

• During World Wars One and Two, there were many advances in surgery, including plastic surgery and blood transfusions
• The Beveridge Report led to the creation of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948 and free health care for all
• Archibald McIndoe


  • Worked with soldiers who had suffered severe facial injuries, especially from burns
  • Treated the physical injuries
  • Supported soldiers who had difficulties with their mental health as a result of severe disfigurement from physical injuries
• Guinea Pig Club


  Support network formed by McIndoe's patients to help recovering soldiers adapt to civilian life and learn to live with their injuries
• Charles Drew came up with new methods to store and transport blood, and was put in charge of a campaign called Blood for Britain to collect blood from US civilians and transport it to Britain for use in blood transfusions
• Evacuation of 3 million children to the countryside during World War Two led to support for social reform and a commitment to help families in need of assistance, which helped pave the way to the foundation of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948
• During World War Two, penicillin was mass produced for the first time, and US soldiers injured at D-Day were given penicillin to reduce the risk of infection