Category: Health and Medicine

Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Health and Medicine, Local History, Parliamentary Life, Victorian

‘I shall persist’: Joseph Brotherton (1783-1857) and late hours in the Commons

Among the new constituencies created by the 1832 Reform Act was Salford, whose first MP, Joseph Brotherton, proved to be a notably hard-working member of the Commons. Dr Kathryn Rix, Assistant Editor of our House of Commons, 1832-1945 project, examines the career of this diligent backbencher, shedding light on the timetable of the parliamentary day. In 1832 the borough of Salford elected its first MP, … Continue reading ‘I shall persist’: Joseph Brotherton (1783-1857) and late hours in the Commons

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History of Parliament Trust, 18th Century history, Factions, George III, Georgian, Georgian Lords, Health and Medicine, John Stuart, 3rd earl of Bute, Parliamentary Life, Parties, William Pitt the Younger, Women and Parliament

A Meddlesome Mother? Queen Charlotte and the Regency Crisis

In October 1788, George III fell ill with an unknown ‘malady’ which rendered him unable to fulfil his duties as sovereign: the beginning of the king’s famous ‘madness’. In the latest post for the Georgian Lords, we welcome Dr Natalee Garrett, who considers the role of Queen Charlotte during the period of the king’s illness, and more broadly. As the Prince of Wales was 26 … Continue reading A Meddlesome Mother? Queen Charlotte and the Regency Crisis

Robin EaglesLeave a comment
Contemporary History, 20th century history, Health and Medicine, LGBTQ+ History, Modern, Oral history

HIV and Parliament: memories from our Oral History Project

For LGBT+ History Month, Dr Emma Peplow, Head of Contemporary History, uses the History of Parliament’s Oral History archive to reflect on the debates and experiences of HIV in Parliament during the 1980s. When the HIV/AIDs epidemic arrived in the UK in the early 1980s it was a frightening, confusing time. Little was known about this new disease, other than it appeared to be deadly to … Continue reading HIV and Parliament: memories from our Oral History Project

Emma PeplowLeave a comment
Modern, 20th century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Contemporary History, Health and Medicine

75 Years of the National Health Service: A Political History of Health and Healthcare in Britain

In September, the History of Parliament celebrated our latest publication with St James’s House to commemorate 75 years of the NHS at Westminster Abbey. Paul Seaward, Director of the History of Parliament, discusses the contents of the book and how to access it for free. We’re delighted to say that our latest publication with St James’s House is now freely available online. Hardback and paperback versions … Continue reading 75 Years of the National Health Service: A Political History of Health and Healthcare in Britain

Paul Seaward1 Comment
The First Elizabethan Age, 16th Century history, Elizabeth I, Health and Medicine, Religious history, Tudor

What if Elizabeth I had Died in 1562?

It is easy to take the long reign of Elizabeth I for granted. But less than four years after Elizabeth ascended the throne, her life was nearly cut short, threatening to bring down the curtain on the Tudor dynasty. What might have ensued is explored by Dr Andrew Thrush, editor of our Lords 1558-1603 section… On 10 October 1562 Elizabeth I, England’s 29-year old queen, the last … Continue reading What if Elizabeth I had Died in 1562?

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Health and Medicine, Modern, Social history

75 Years of the NHS – reform, reorganisation and restructure

Fittingly, the NHS celebrated its 75th anniversary in the wake of a major reform. Such ‘once in a lifetime’ reorganisations have been a feature since its creation. In this guest blog, Dr Michael Lambert, an NHS historian and Research Fellow at Lancaster Medical School, discusses how successive politicians have used restructuring to try and overcome recurrent crises in the health service. The NHS which Labour’s … Continue reading 75 Years of the NHS – reform, reorganisation and restructure

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Health and Medicine, Modern, Social history

The National Health Service’s Anniversaries as a Political Tradition

To mark the National Health Service’s (NHS) seventy-fifth anniversary, guest blogger Dr Andrew Seaton discusses his new book, Our NHS: A History of Britain’s Best-Loved Institution (Yale University Press, 2023) and its links to parliamentary history through the lens of its anniversaries. In my new book, Our NHS: A History of Britain’s Best-Loved Institution, I try and answer two questions. First, why did the National … Continue reading The National Health Service’s Anniversaries as a Political Tradition

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Elections, Health and Medicine, Modern, Oral history, Social history, Women and Parliament

75 Years of the NHS – on the campaign trail

Last month, the NHS celebrated its 75th anniversary. Since its formation, the NHS has played a key role in politics. Here, Dr Emma Peplow, Head of Oral History, explores how important the NHS was to voters and politicians on the campaign trail. This summer we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the NHS. Alongside the tributes to those who work so hard to keep it running, there … Continue reading 75 Years of the NHS – on the campaign trail

Emma Peplow1 Comment
Medieval, 14th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Health and Medicine, Legal history

‘Always look a gift horse in the mouth’: the abbey of Louth Park and the deathbed of Sir Henry Vavasour (d. 1342) of Cockerington, Lincolnshire

On his deathbed, Sir Henry Vavasour reflected on life after death and made some changes in his will to ensure the health of his soul. However, in doing so he compromised his family’s future. Simon Payling from our Commons 1461-1504 project explores Sir Henry’s last minute decisions and the fallout they caused… Death was a crucial moment of transition in the passage of property. At the … Continue reading ‘Always look a gift horse in the mouth’: the abbey of Louth Park and the deathbed of Sir Henry Vavasour (d. 1342) of Cockerington, Lincolnshire

Simon PaylingLeave a comment
Conferences, Seminars and Events, 14th Century history, 15th Century History, Health and Medicine, Medieval

Reflection on Parliament, Politics and Pandemics in Later Medieval England

In October the History of Parliament were delighted to welcome a sell-out audience to Westminster for our 2022 Annual Lecture- our first in-person lecture after a hiatus of two years. Here our Public Engagement Assistant, and new addition to the History of Parliament team, Kirsty O’Rourke reflects on the lecture, ‘Parliament, Politics and Pandemics in Later Medieval England’, given by Professor Chris Given-Wilson. This year’s … Continue reading Reflection on Parliament, Politics and Pandemics in Later Medieval England

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