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London Metropolitan Archives

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT: EMERGENCY WARTIME MEASURES


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): LCC/PH/WAR

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT: EMERGENCY WARTIME MEASURES

Date(s): 1938-1948

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 3.08 linear metres

Name of creator(s): LCC | London County Council x London County Council

CONTEXT

Administrative/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.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

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.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

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

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright: City of London

Physical characteristics:

Fit

Finding aids:

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

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

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

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

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.

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Rules or conventions: 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.

Date(s) of descriptions: April to June 2009


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Air raid precautions | Civil defence | Defence | State security
Ambulance services | Emergency services
Ambulance stations | Public buildings | Buildings | Architecture
Ambulances | Emergency vehicles | Vehicles | Transport
Emergency health services | Health services
Emergency services personnel | Personnel | People by occupation | People
First aid | Emergency treatment | Medical treatment | Therapy | Medical sciences
Health policy | Health
Hospitals | Health services
Public health | Health
World War Two (1939-1945) | World wars (events) | Wars (events)
Civil defence x Defence
Public health x Health policy
Medical institutions

Personal names

Corporate names
Army Medical Department
Emergency Medical Service
LCC | London County Council x London County Council
London Ambulance Service
Medical Research Council
Ministry of Health
Public Health Department | London County Council

Places
London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe