Assess the significance of war in influencing the transformation of approaches to medical treatment and surgery in the period 1870-1990

Throughout 1870-1990, warfare played a crucial role in transforming approaches to medical treatment and surgery as it; prompted more government responsibility in healthcare, innovated technological developments in medicine such as the establishment of blood transfusion services, contributed to individual breakthroughs by catalysing the development, and mass-production of penicillin. However, there's an ongoing historical debate regarding the significance of other factors' influence in transforming approaches to medical treatment and surgery. Other factors include; individuals who used their scientific knowledge to develop new medical treatment and surgical treatments, and the role of the government in enhancing healthcare in Britain.

The effects of war were prevalent as early as the Second Boer War; which exposed inadequacies within the healthcare system, instigating increased government awareness towards poor health. Henry Hyndman suggested up to 50% of volunteers were unfit and in Manchester, 8,000 out of the 11,000 who volunteered for the army were rejected as they were physically unsuitable. The public's poor health hindered recruitment for the Boer War alarmed the government. This forced them to respond by establishing the inter-department Committee on Physical Deterioration; which highlighted nutrition as an indicator of the public's health. Subsequently, free school meals were offered to the less affluent and routine examinations of school children’s health began in 1907. Also, a report conducted by the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws in 1909 recommended that the Local Government Board should possess greater authority in regulating medical institutions, demonstrating how the Second Boer War transformed the