Summary: Takes the opportunity of a simple explanation of the wartime changes in public health policy to make some mild propaganda.
Description: Opens with establishing shots of England pre-war (London at night, rural England, cricket games in country and slums) - "even when at peace, the country had been at war against sickness", various aspects of this 'war' are shown, research, curative and preventive medicine, slum clearance etc. Outbreak of real War necessitates some major redirection involving central planning of a National Health Service, and redeployment of hospital facilities, leaving first aid facilities in towns, but evacuating hospitals, convalescent or maternity units etc to country, illustrated by shots of a converted public school and a stately home (Ashridge House at Little Gaddesden near Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire) where wooden huts are erected to serve as wards. Film stresses the incidental benefits of this disruption (eg improved health of evacuee children, more equal treatment standards) and to an extent turns them into a war-aim "giving our children a better heritage."
Production Details: Ministry of Health (Production sponsor)
Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
GPO Film Unit (Production company)
Jackson, Pat1916-03-262011-06-03 (Production individual)
Watt, Raymond Egerton Harry1906-10-181987-04-02British documentary film maker (Production individual)
Fowle, H E (Production individual)
Cameron, Ken (Production individual)
Taylor, Colin (Production individual)
Sinclair, Robert (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: demolition, British - obsolescence: slum clearance (object name)
medical, British civilian - hospital (object name)
medical, British civilian - long term: convalescent home (object name)
medical, British civilian - preventative (object name)
medical, British civilian - research (object name)
society, British - hygiene (object name)
GB, England (geography)
propaganda (concept)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Running time: 13 mins
