Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Founded 1856 as The Association of Metropolitan Medical Officers of Health.
In 1871 the report of the Royal Sanitary Commission (appointed 1869) recommended consolidation of public health measures under one sanitary law and proposed a Minister of Health.
In 1873 the name changed to The Society of Medical Officers of Health. The aims of the Society were to promote public health and increase the education and knowledge of Medical Officers of Health (MOHs), the medical profession and the general public in this field. Its main activities were holding meetings, lectures and conferences; organising training courses; publishing the journal Public Health; promoting research and the publication of books, pamphlets and papers relating to public health; acting as an advisory body to Government and other organisations; and awarding prizes for work and study in public health.
In 1891 the Society was incorporated under the Companies Act and the name changed to The Incorporated Society of Medical Officers of Health.
In 1929 the Local Government Act meant that MOHs were responsible for water supply; sewage disposal; food control and hygiene; public health aspects of housing; control and prevention of infectious diseases; maternity and child welfare clinics; midwives and health visitors; tuberculosis clinics and venereal disease clinics; and school health services and local hospitals.
In 1969 the Society registered as a Charity.
In 1973 the name changed to The Society of Community Medicine.
In 1974 the National Health Service Reorganisation Act meant that the role of MOHs no longer existed.
In 1976 internal administrative and financial problems almost resulted in the end of the Society.
In 1989 the name changed to The Society of Public Health Limited.
In 1993 the name changed to The Society of Public Health.
In 1997 the name changed to The Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene and Society of Public Health following a merger.