International Festival of Public Health

Manchester Medical Society's Edwin Chadwick Lecture

Edwin Chadwick (1800—1890), Public Health Pioneer

Edwin Chadwick was born in Manchester in 1800. While studying to become a lawyer in London, Chadwick became interested in political and social reform. He became one of the most important public health activists of the 1800s.

Chadwick believed in using science as a means for social improvement and in 1832 he was asked to serve on a royal commission to investigate the effectiveness of the Poor Laws - a system of social security in place since 1601. His work contributed to the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act.

In the course of his investigations into the living conditions of the poor, Chadwick became interested in the problem of sanitation. He was convinced that active measures such as cleaning, drainage and ventilation would make people healthier and therefore less dependent on welfare. His investigation inspired the Public Health Act of 1848 and the establishment of the general Board of Health, of which Chadwick was the first director.

Edwin Chadwick wrote the world’s first report highlighting the link between good sanitary conditions and Public Health. His work has inspired generations, and as such, Manchester Medical Society set up the Edwin Chadwick Lectures in the 1990s in celebration of Edwin Chadwick’s importance in the world of public health. The lectures are reserved for only the most special of occasions, and talks are delivered by those at the top of their careers. The last Edwin Chadwick Lecture was given by Professor Mike Kelly, Director of the Centre of Public Health Excellence at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Manchester Medical Society are pleased to have two very special guest speakers from the world of Public Health delivering the Edwin Chadwick Lecture at this year’s Festival of Public Health UK:

Professor Darren Shickle

Head of Academic Unit of Public Health, University of Leeds

AND

Dr Andrew Jones

National Drugs Evidence Centre

Followed by:

How Programme Budgeting and Marginal Analysis (PBMA) was used to promote prevention and improve health across the pathway of respiratory disease

Shola Bolaji (North East Lincolnshire Council)

Community Engagement Model

Sue Gallacher (Salford City Council)

Chairs

Professor Sir Liam Donaldson and Professor Mukesh Kapila