ABSTRACT

In 1920 an agreement was reached between the Poor Law Guardians of Bradford and Bradford Borough Council to transfer hospital services from the Poor Law to the City Council. This chapter explores the social and political factors that led to this pioneering venture. The policy became a possibility due to the coalescence of several elements, including the perceived failure of voluntary hospital provision in Bradford, a wide acceptance in the city that the local authority should have some kind of legitimate stake in general hospital provision, the presence of a Minister of Health favourably inclined towards the scheme and, in no uncertain terms, the drive of the Borough Medical Officer of Health (MOH), John Buchan.