Evolution of Public Health & Health Promotion Strategies in the UK

This essay provides an overview of public health and health promotion in the United Kingdom, tracing national developments from the 19th century to the present day. It highlights the government's efforts to improve sanitation, address infant mortality, and enhance healthcare services through initiatives like the establishment of hospitals and the implementation of public health acts. The essay further discusses the impact of the National Health Service (NHS) on healthcare accessibility, the establishment of maternity hospitals, and the role of social welfare services. It also examines modern achievements in public health, such as vaccination programs, infectious disease prevention, and improvements in food safety, emphasizing the importance of sustainable healthcare and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. The essay concludes that the UK government and various private organizations have made significant strides in promoting public health through education, policy-making, and institutional support.

Introduction to Public
Health and Health
Promotion OMED
PART 1

INTRODUCTION
 Public health is taking in the
consideration in order to improve the healthy
lifestyle of the people that are needed to be
supported by the government of the United
Kingdom.
 In present the government tries to make new
policies and the new strategies to identify the
need for the improvement of the health of the
citizens. The presentation, will further discuss
about new measures which have been taken
from period rising after 19th century

MAIN BODY
National developments in the nineteenth century
 The government of UK takes several steps in order to improve the sanitation in many
European countries. After the 18th century the population of the UK was increasing rapidly and with
the increase in the population the government noticed or recognized the infant death rates and also the
worst condition of the prisoners and the mental institutions.
 So, in this period there was a rapid growth of the hospital in order to save the lives of the people.
To support this decision many private citizens took a step forward to create a pattern and to improve
the public health care services. In this era government also had put efforts to educate the people and to
make them aware about the health matters. The citizens of the UK get educated and aware about the
personal hygiene, which further engaged in bringing new medical facilities within healthcare.

CONT….
 In the era of the nineteenth century
the government put various efforts
by implementing several public
health acts so that the country has
been further regulating prevention
and control of disease.

CONT….
 In this century the France also took the step forward and contributed towards the public heath regarding
the treatment and the control of the communicable diseases. Some other developments in nineteenth century was
the formation of the centralized public health unit and the emergence of the hygiene in terms of experimental
laboratory science.
The UK government also start using the statistical analysis to handle or control the health problems.
Various diagnostic Bacteriologic laboratory was developed in Europe to improve the health of the community.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention were established by the UK government and the main aim or the
purpose of these centres or the agencies is to prevent and control the diseases and to promote the public health.

CONT….
 The government also tries to educate the people of the below poverty
line about the hygiene, health problems, etc. and also provides them
the basic necessity things like food, clothing and shelter to the public.
 In this context the UK government also introduced the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act so that the patient can be able to
afford the treatment and can avail the facilities provided in order to
cure the disease.

CONT….
After the emergence of NHS the
health care facilities are improved and
there is a provision of free and cheap
treatment of the patients for the diseases.
Many voluntary hospitals were also
established for the poor people in the 20th
century where they get free treatment from
the illness and also facilitate by the access
to health care.

CONT….
Many steps were taken and the committees or the institutions were established in order to educate
the women about the health, personal hygiene and also make them aware about the maternity. Maternity
hospitals along with the best and advanced technologies are also established by the UK government to
provide cheap and affordable treatment for the poor women. Social welfare services are also enhanced by
various public and private institutions and they offers the services to the old people, poor children, etc.
and in this context several laws were also came into existence to control the exploitation of the children
and also for the women.
 In the recent time period regarding the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention put efforts
for the improvement in the health care. Following are the achievements in the context of public health-

CONT…
Vaccination- Various vaccination camps are arranged by the government for the
eradication of the diseases like typhoid, cholera, smallpox, measles, tetanus, rubella, polio,
etc.
Prevention from the infectious diseases- Through improved water and sanitation facilities
there is a control of many infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV aids, etc.
Decline in the death rate- It was possible with the help of early detection and treatment of
the patients suffer from serious heart diseases and the problem of stroke.
Safer and healthier foods- Elimination of the deficiency diseases like rickets, goitre, etc.
with the rapid increase in the nutritional food and the safe environment.

CONT..
 Sustainable health care includes adequate housing, safe water and food supplies, securing health living
as well as the work environment, communal facilities, etc. At the time of coronavirus or the pandemic
situation the people of the UK even the whole world understand the importance of the health and the
nutritious food and also the necessity of the immunity power.
 At this time period the citizens or the public of UK faces many problems regarding the shortage of the
beds in the hospitals, shortage of the oxygen, etc.

CONT..
 It also gave advanced facilities for the adults in order to treat them properly and can be
able to save their lives from the coronavirus.
 The patients got the quick and the fastest treatment along with the advanced equipments
so that they can reduce the effect of virus. As according to the principle of sustainability
development there should be no compromise on the basis of the availability of the needs.
 These improvements in the health facilities are according to the principles of sustainable
development which means that these are beneficial for the future generation and provides
them better facilities and the protection from the various dangerous diseases.

CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that from the period of nineteenth century to the
present day the government of the UK take the steps and also put the hard efforts to improve and
promote the public health.
In this context the UK government make many policies and established many health organization
as well as the institutions to make the people educated and aware about the sanitation, personal
hygiene, maternity, child welfare, etc. However it can also be concluded that various private
organizations also support the UK government for the betterment of the public health or the health
and social care facilities

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