C.1900 - PRESENT MODERN MEDICINE

• Although Pasteur's Germ Theory led to many changes in prevention and treatment, there are some illnesses that are not caused by germs. In Modern Britain it was discovered that genetics and lifestyles are also responsible for illness and disease.
• Francis Crick and James Watson discovered the structure of DNA. They were helped by Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin and funded by government and industry.


  1953
• The Human Genome Project compiled a complete map of human DNA by identifying the exact purpose of each gene.

  1986
• Scientists have discovered that there are specific genes that pass on conditions and illnesses such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome and some forms of cancer.
• Lifestyle factors


  • Poverty, drug use, smoking, drinking alcohol, being overweight and poor diet. They can lead to illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and mental health problems.
• Governments have introduced lifestyle campaigns to try to help with this such as Stoptober, Dry January and Change 4 Life.
• Improvements in diagnosis


  • Electron microscopes, blood pressure monitors, MRI scanners, CT scanners and endoscopes.
• Liberal reforms


  1. 1902 training for midwives

  2. 1911 National Insurance Act- provided support for workers who became ill

  3. 1912 Free medical treatment for children in schools

  4. 1919 Nursing Act
• NHS 1948


  Everyone in Britain was able to get free treatment at the point of delivery. NHS services include: hospitals, dentists, medical research, GPs, health centres and vaccinations.
• Paul Ehrlich discovered the first magic bullet, a chemical drug that killed bacteria in the human body: Salvarsan 606.


  1909
• Gerhard Domagk discovered a magic bullet, Prontosil, that did not kill the patient and cured blood poisoning.


  1930s
• Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin.


  1928
• Florey and Chain managed to mass produce enough Penicillin to be used on soldiers.

  World War Two
• High tech treatments


  • Keyhole surgery, dialysis, microsurgery, pacemakers and prosthetic limbs.
• New approaches to prevention

  1. 1896 Typhoid vaccination

  2. 1954 Polio vaccination

  3. 1988 MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination

  4. 2020 Covid 19 vaccination
• Nearly 90% of lung cancer cases are a result of smoking.
• Lung cancer treatment


  • Surgery
  • Radiotherapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Immunotherapy
• Lung cancer prevention


  • Banning cigarette advertising
  • Banning shops from displaying cigarettes
  • Making it illegal to smoke in public places
• Lung cancer diagnosis


  • Screening of high-risk individuals, CT scans and bronchoscopes.