The Future of Voluntary Hospital Contributory Schemes - The point of view of the wage earning community / by H. H. Elvin
1938-12-14 1938 1930s 7 pages Voluntary Hospital Contributory Schemes, WAGE EARNING COMMUNITY'S VIEW 4. I speak particularly out of my knowledge of the Non-Manual worker. Clerks, for instance, are bound, unfortunately, by custom. As his salary goes up, it is expected that his standard of...
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| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
| Language: | English English |
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14 December 1938
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/4264C6C7-17B4-4109-8810-39FF0FBB63B4 http://hdl.handle.net/10796/9DCB421B-26C8-4016-8BFC-CC2730583E82 |
| Summary: | 1938-12-14
1938
1930s
7 pages
Voluntary Hospital Contributory Schemes, WAGE EARNING COMMUNITY'S VIEW 4. I speak particularly out of my knowledge of the Non-Manual worker. Clerks, for instance, are bound, unfortunately, by custom. As his salary goes up, it is expected that his standard of living shall increase, and the social demands upon him develop, with the result that behind many a well-curtained window there is a human tragedy. If he earns more than a certain amount he is shut out of National Health Schemes, and if sickness should come into the home he is in a hole, because the Hospital "Means Test" immediately comes into operation. It is true that there is an Honorary Contributors Scheme, but as I understand it, it does not fit the bill. It is because of the hardship which comes to the salary earner up to £500. per annum that my Organisation, in common with other Bodies, has pressed that the income limit for National Insurance Schemes should be raised to £500. I wondered whether the Executive Committee of the Association could show that it is not so hardhearted as the Government by considering, and I hope by extending, their Scheme to include the workers I have referred to? Then I like the idea of assisting the worker to be independent of "Charity", that much-abused word in its application. The average working man is not a "cadger". He is a generous-hearted soul, who will often beggar himself to assist another. He hates "charity", but responds to living sympathy. The idea of assisting others and helping himself at the same time is in accordance with his practical expression of life. I understand, too, that 48% of the total income of Hospitals comes from the contributions of the various Schemes, plus what is received from the fees paid by patients. Has it ever been considered that this percentage is likely to be considerably increased by widening the Scheme on the lines I have indicated, and at the same time abolish the need for "flag days"? I am convinced that taking the long view, the latter do far more than good to the cause of Voluntary Hospitals. As a friend of Hospitals, until, at any rate, the Government realises its full responsibility regarding the health of the nation, I should like to make a few suggestions which if adopted I believe would assist them, and place many other persons in debt of them. I should like to see the Out-Patients Department taken in hand immediately. I have visited many Hospitals, and have been appalled at the sight of the large number of people huddled together, some of whom have been kept waiting for hours to receive attention. I have no doubt that Hospital authorities feel equally distressed as myself. Think of the effect! The terror of unemployment, especially in these days, dogs the footsteps of the average worker. His job is the last thing he is going to risk. To keep him waiting means that rather than become unemployed he will take the other risk, which may lead to the same result of being maimed and disabled for years. Then, again, there is the mother who has many household duties to perform, including the care of a
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