Collection LCC/PH/WAR - PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT: EMERGENCY WARTIME MEASURES

Identity area

Reference code

LCC/PH/WAR

Title

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT: EMERGENCY WARTIME MEASURES

Date(s)

  • 1938-1948 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

3.08 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The London County Council assumed responsibility for the general hospitals formerly maintained by the Boards of Guardians and the Special hospitals formerly maintained by the Metropolitan Asylums Board with effect from 1 April 1930. These hospitals needed much work to modernise, equip and staff them adequately. The Council made great improvements in hospital accommodation and staffing standards. The nursing service had been improved, medical schools established, and a laboratory service built up. These functions were transferred to the Regional Hospitals Boards and Hospital Management Committees under the National Health Service Acts with effect from 5 July 1948. The Council assisted by providing services of supply, engineering and finance for several months after the transfer, until Council officers could be absorbed into the new organisation.

There was also a transfer from the City and the boroughs to the London County Council of health services including maternity and child welfare, health visiting, home help, vaccination and immunisation, and the care of those with tuberculosis. The Council took over 4,843 lay and professional staff, 70 freehold premises, and 252 tenancy arrangements, as well as adding new services such as home nursing, the provision of health centres and the expansion of the ambulance service. The County was divided into nine divisions, each with a divisional health committee, a divisional medical officer, a nursing officer and an administrative officer.

Archival history

LCC/PH/WAR 1938-1948 Collection 3.08 linear metres LCC , London County Council x London County Council

The London County Council assumed responsibility for the general hospitals formerly maintained by the Boards of Guardians and the Special hospitals formerly maintained by the Metropolitan Asylums Board with effect from 1 April 1930. These hospitals needed much work to modernise, equip and staff them adequately. The Council made great improvements in hospital accommodation and staffing standards. The nursing service had been improved, medical schools established, and a laboratory service built up. These functions were transferred to the Regional Hospitals Boards and Hospital Management Committees under the National Health Service Acts with effect from 5 July 1948. The Council assisted by providing services of supply, engineering and finance for several months after the transfer, until Council officers could be absorbed into the new organisation.

There was also a transfer from the City and the boroughs to the London County Council of health services including maternity and child welfare, health visiting, home help, vaccination and immunisation, and the care of those with tuberculosis. The Council took over 4,843 lay and professional staff, 70 freehold premises, and 252 tenancy arrangements, as well as adding new services such as home nursing, the provision of health centres and the expansion of the ambulance service. The County was divided into nine divisions, each with a divisional health committee, a divisional medical officer, a nursing officer and an administrative officer.

Acquired with the records of its parent body, the London County Council. Further accession received in 1953 (AC/53/051).

Records of the London County Council Public Health Department relating to Second World War emergency wartime measures, 1938-1948, including general files on the Emergency Hospital Service, the history of the Emergency Hospital Service during the war, air raid precautions in hospitals, emergency medical services in London, organisation of treatment centres, evacuation scheme, and victory celebrations. Circulars, guides and handbooks on health and first aid issued by the Ministry of Health, Army Medical Department, Medical Research Council and various Government departments.

Papers relating to the London Ambulance Service and London Auxiliary Ambulance Service, including general files on emergency arrangements, progress reports, publicity posters and recruiting pamphlets, Special Committee of Inquiry into the Ambulance Service, complaints and criticisms of Ambulance Service, instructions and training notes for ambulance drivers and attendants, organisation of first aid posts, casualties, war damage to ambulance stations and vehicles, staff casualties, recruitment and enrolment of staff, staff welfare, staff management and administration, staff honours and awards, regulations concerning vehicles and message book.

LCC/PH/WAR/01: General; LCC/PH/WAR/02: Ministry of Health circular; LCC/PH/WAR/03: London Ambulance Service.

Available for general access.

Copyright: City of London
English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

For further information on the history of the LCC please see Achievement: A Short History of the London County Council by W Eric Jackson (1965), LMA Library reference 18.0 1965, The London County Council 1938, LMA Library reference 18.7 SER 4, and The Youngest County: A description of London as a county and its public services, 1951, LMA Library reference 18.0 1951.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. April to June 2009 UK England London Emergency Medical Service Medical Research Council Army Medical Department London Ambulance Service Ministry of Health Public Health Department , London County Council LCC , London County Council x London County Council Hospitals Health policy State security Defence Medical sciences Therapy Medical treatment First aid Emergency treatment People Personnel People by occupation Emergency services personnel Transport Emergency health services Vehicles Emergency vehicles Ambulances Wars (events) World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) Architecture Buildings Public buildings Ambulance stations Health services Medical institutions Civil defence Air raid precautions Health Public health Emergency services Ambulance services Western Europe Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Acquired with the records of its parent body, the London County Council. Further accession received in 1953 (AC/53/051).

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the London County Council Public Health Department relating to Second World War emergency wartime measures, 1938-1948, including general files on the Emergency Hospital Service, the history of the Emergency Hospital Service during the war, air raid precautions in hospitals, emergency medical services in London, organisation of treatment centres, evacuation scheme, and victory celebrations. Circulars, guides and handbooks on health and first aid issued by the Ministry of Health, Army Medical Department, Medical Research Council and various Government departments.

Papers relating to the London Ambulance Service and London Auxiliary Ambulance Service, including general files on emergency arrangements, progress reports, publicity posters and recruiting pamphlets, Special Committee of Inquiry into the Ambulance Service, complaints and criticisms of Ambulance Service, instructions and training notes for ambulance drivers and attendants, organisation of first aid posts, casualties, war damage to ambulance stations and vehicles, staff casualties, recruitment and enrolment of staff, staff welfare, staff management and administration, staff honours and awards, regulations concerning vehicles and message book.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

LCC/PH/WAR/01: General; LCC/PH/WAR/02: Ministry of Health circular; LCC/PH/WAR/03: London Ambulance Service.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright: City of London

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area