The Welfare State

What did vulnerable people used to depend on?

Help from charitable organisations before the beginning of the 20th century

Examples of charitable organisations

The Salvation Army or the Church

What was a workhouse?

A place where the poorest people could sleep in accommodation and eat in exchange for work - however these conditions were poor and no one wanted to live in a workhouse

When did the government start introducing basic help?

From 1906

What basic help was given by the government?

Free school meals for children, basic sick and unemployment pay for the poorest citizens

When was more advanced help given?

After 1948

What substantial help did the government give in 1948?

The NHS was formed, weekly family allowance payments were given to help with childcare costs, the poorest received benefits as financial help, the school leaving age was raised to 15 to give a greater chance of a good education (this has since been raised to 18), more free university places were awarded, there was a government programme of slum clearance by pulling down large areas of poor quality housing and new homes were built, 12 new towns were created and 280,000 council homes were being created each year by 1948

How many people had never seen a doctor before 1948?

8 million people as they couldn’t afford to

Who visited the doctor more frequently?

Women (so their needs became a priority) as they are four times more likely to visit a doctor than men

How did life expectancy change?

It rose from 66 to 83 for women and 64 to 79 for men

What factors affect life expectancy?

Wealth and living conditions although medicine has come a long way