Ace the Edexcel IGCSE: Changes in Medicine c1845-c1945 in 2025 – Your Prescription for Success!

The improvement in the quality of urban water supplies is a key aspect of the sanitary reforms advocated by Edwin Chadwick. In the mid-19th century, Chadwick's investigations into the living conditions in cities revealed that inadequate sanitation and contaminated water supplies were major contributors to poor public health and the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhoid.

Chadwick's work led to the publishing of the 1842 report "The Sanitary Condition of the Labouring Population of Great Britain," which highlighted the urgent need for the government to take action to improve hygiene and sanitation in urban areas. His recommendations included the establishment of proper sewage systems and the provision of clean drinking water, which significantly improved public health outcomes.

Access to healthcare personnel, management of medical records, and distribution of pharmaceutical products, while important aspects of overall public health, were not the primary focus of Chadwick’s reforms. His emphasis was squarely on sanitation and the quality of the water supply as fundamental to preventing disease and improving the living conditions of the urban population. Therefore, the answer that highlights the improvement in urban water quality is indeed aligned with the impact of Chadwick's advocacy.