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 6. In this way the preventive side of medicine cannot fully develop. In one country I know, there is no such fear, and I have been told that the total time lost on account of absence thro...
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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/10796/5BEE18AF-9B24-4BED-82D9-48D78582A9D7 http://hdl.handle.net/10796/7C47DCF9-44E4-48B7-AD63-79151BD653AB |
| Summary: | 1938-12-14
1938
1930s
7 pages
Voluntary Hospital Contributory Schemes, WAGE EARNING COMMUNITY'S VIEW 6. In this way the preventive side of medicine cannot fully develop. In one country I know, there is no such fear, and I have been told that the total time lost on account of absence through sickness is brought down to a minimum. It should be made illegal to dismiss a person because he is away ill, or to deduct his pay for that absence, i.e., if our first consideration is to be the development of a fit nation. If we establish this ideal, our Hospitals would become more of a preventive than a curative institution, and possibly become a lesser burden to the community. Aligned with this is the possibility of medical examination in connection with Holidays. In the country to which I have alluded, where the workers need have no fear of "getting the sack" if they go to the doctor to be examined they, also arrange for the workers going on holiday to be examined. When we use the word "sanatorium" we immediately think of a home for consumptives. But "sanatorium" in the country I have referred to denotes a holiday home. A "sanatorium" is a health station. There is need for both sanitation and sanation. I have visited many of these health places. They are wonderful. The feature that struck me most was its medical staff, and its dietetic courses. As one of the doctors told me: "Many a person starts on holiday is ill without knowing it." It is true that every worker has a months' holiday with pay, and so the doctors get a chance, but it would be fine if some such system could be started in this country. Here is an opportunity for the Merseyside Hospitals Council with the Holiday Resorts across the water! One more suggestion before I come to my final proposal, which may be considered of a revolutional character. What connection has the Hospital Schemes with the organised Trade Union Movement of this country? It represents over five million workers, and is, therefore, an important Body. It may be that you have, but I do not know of any, connection with this great Movement. I know you may have representatives of Trade Unions on your local Committees, but this is not the same as having representatives of Trade Unions upon, say, your County Associations if you have any, or on your Central Executive. Why should not Hospitals have Trade Union representatives upon their Governing Bodies? Is this idea worth thinking about? And now I come to what might be considered to be a revolutionary suggestion. I believe that the two worst diseases workers suffer from are Cancer and Rheumatism. Through the fine work of our National Health Insurance Committees Tuberculosis is not the dread visitant it once was, but somehow or other Rheumatism and Cancer are still bothering us. Cancer: Take Cancer first. According to the Registrar General's review of England and Wales for 1934, out of a total of 55,232 deaths caused by Cancer, no fewer than 11,346 (or over 20%) died from Stomach Cancer.
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