| Description | A summary of the origins of the Public Health Department and the first sixty years of its operation in Newcastle can be found in the Annual Report of the Medical Officer Of Health for Newcastle in 1932, (see MD.NC/PH/1/1/1932 below).
Following the Public Health Acts, 1872 and 1875 Boroughs were obliged to appoint a Medical Officer of Health (MOH) and an Inspector of Nuisances. Public health responsibilities were further widened in 1890 following the Public Health Acts Amendment Act and the adoption of the Infectious Disease (Prevention) Act, 1890.
Prior to the Public Health Act, 1875, Newcastle decided, after much heated controversy, to appoint a whole time MOH. The first MOH was Dr H E Armstrong, at the time resident Medical Officer to the Newcastle upon Tyne Dispensary, City Road and to the old Fever Hospital, Bath Lane. Dr Armstrong was one of the first MOH in the country. His original staff consisted of an Inspector of Nuisances (Mr William Curry) and a clerk (William Gillender, who was on the staff from 1876 to 1921).
The Newcastle Health Department was among the first to institute measures for Maternity and Child Welfare (M&CW). In October 1901 the first two Health Visitors were appointed. In 1907 the Superintendent of Midwives [Elia Renaud] founded the Mothers and Babies Welcome Society, a voluntary organisation, with one centre in the Scotswood Road neighbourhood. By 1920, when responsibility passed to the Sanitary Committee, there were 9 Centres. The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee was established in 1918, and in June 1920 a whole time Medical Officer (Dr A F G Spinks) was appointed to take charge of all the various undertakings of the M&CW Scheme.
On 1 April 1930 responsibility for the administration of the Poor Law was transferred to local authorities following the abolition of Boards of Guardians (see PU.NC for records relating to Newcastle Board of Guardians). Responsibility for the administration of several local hospitals, remained a function of the council until the creation of the National Health Service in 1948 when responsibility for them passed to the newly created Newcastle Regional Hospital Board (see HA.NR). Certain clinics also passed to the NHS at that date although responsibility for general and home nursing services remained with the authority until 1974. |