In pictures
Public health campaigns
Local and national governments have issued health advice since the medieval period, often during epidemics. But in the 20th century the government embarked on massive publicity campaigns on all aspects of health, now preserved in our records.
Tuberculosis awareness poster
- Date
- 1935–1939
- Catalogue reference
- MH 82/1
Sketches of a doctor talking to a patient sit around large amounts of blue text.
Still from a film explaining the National Health Service
- Date
- 1948
- Catalogue reference
- INF 32/5
Cartoon of a man in a brown suit and black tie waiting outside a door marked 'DOCTOR'.
Photograph of a midwife helping a mother bath her baby
- Date
- 1948–1957
- Catalogue reference
- MH 134/6
A woman in a blouse sits holding a tiny baby below a woman in a white gown and mask.
Ministry of Health poster encouraging blood donation
- Date
- 1949
- Catalogue reference
- MH 55/956
Surgeons operate on a patient within a huge pair of hands above the words 'a life in your hands'.
Poster encouraging people to keep their bin lid on
- Date
- 1962
- Catalogue reference
- BN 10/99
A diagram of an arrow sits between a photo of a bin lid and the open bin, beside a large fly.
Poster promoting the money saved by giving up smoking
- Date
- 1966
- Catalogue reference
- INF 13/255
The words 'MORE MONEY-MORE FUN-IF YOU DON'T SMOKE!' below a woman surrounded by desirable goods.
Letter on the public education campaign to prevent the spread of AIDS
- Date
- 1986
- Catalogue reference
- PREM 19/1863
Printed letter on '10 Downing Street' headed paper with the word 'RESTRICTED' prominent.
Featured article
The story of
The foundation of the NHS
Explore the foundations of the NHS, one of Britain's most well-known and loved institutions.