‘A Bit of a Scratch’ explores the first recorded prosecution under the Venereal Diseases Act 1917. The legislation was introduced due to the large numbers, roughly 5%, of UK troops returning from the First World War with venereal diseases and to ensure that treatment was undertaken by qualified medical professionals. The last century has seen remarkable developments in sexual health, however with rising numbers of sexually transmitted infections and the emergence of antimicrobial resistant disease, the provision of high quality sexual health services are more important than ever.
This podcast was produced jointly with the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH). More information on the issues contained within this podcast can be found on the BASHH website and @BASHH_UK.
By: Debbie Manship
Cast (in order of appearance):
Narrator: Stephen McGann
Billy: Louis Cardona
Edie: Lowri Amies
Chemist: David Jarvis
Doctor: Peter Wickham
All other parts were played by members of the cast.
Composer: Chris Madin
Studio Engineer: Holly Parris
Director: Paul Dawson
Produced by Role Call and iD Audio in association with M & F Health Communications
“The British Army’s fight against Venereal Disease in the ‘Heroic Age of Prostitution’” by Richard Marshall is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0