A national health service : draft memorandum on the government's proposals
1944-04-14 1944 1940s 14 pages - 2 - 3. - Administrative and Financial Proposals Unacceptable. A careful study of the implications of the White Paper, and the proposals therein contained, lead inevitably to the conclusion that the general administrative structure and the financial proposals as set...
| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
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| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
14 April 1944
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/F3E73EE4-77EC-486E-BF44-67F049F1A78F http://hdl.handle.net/10796/A4021627-2356-4709-B73A-3EECCD8A5ABE |
| Summary: | 1944-04-14
1944
1940s
14 pages
- 2 - 3. - Administrative and Financial Proposals Unacceptable. A careful study of the implications of the White Paper, and the proposals therein contained, lead inevitably to the conclusion that the general administrative structure and the financial proposals as set out, by failing to recognise and implement certain essential principles, would result in the disappearance of the voluntary hospitals and all they contribute to the interests of the patient and the advancement of medical science. For these reasons the voluntary hospitals are unanimously agreed that they could not participate in the Scheme, as outlined in the White Paper, and it is their purpose to set out the reasons for this decision and their sugestions for an administrative structure, which would admit them into the scheme on those terms of full partnership which have been the avowed intention of successive Ministers of Health and reiterated by the present Minister. 4. - Central Organisation. In the first place, the White Paper proposes a central organisation, in which the sole executive power and responsibility would rest with the Minister, and in which - "at the side of the Minister, but independent of him" - there would created a special professional and expert body, to be known as the Central Health Services Council, to advise on all aspects of the comprehensive health service. From the voluntary hospitals' point of view, the constitution and composition of this body, given statutory recognition as the mouthpiece of expert opinion in the central administration, is of the greatest importance. The White Paper states that it will be primarily medical in its make-up, but that there should be, in addition, experts on hospital administration, nursing, midwifery, dentistry, pharmacy, and auxiliary services. It is obvious that, on a Central Health Services Council so constituted, the voluntary hospitals would have a wholly inadequate voice in the planning and administration of the hospital service as such. As so constituted, it is unacceptable to the voluntary hospitals. 5. - Central Hospitals Board. It is submitted that there must be established within the general structure of the scheme, a Central Hospitals Board, to consist primarily of equal representation from the local authorities and the voluntary hospitals, together with representatives of the consultant services. The members of the Board should be appointed by the Minister on the nomination of the bodies they represent, and should include both laymen and medical men with knowledge and experience of hospital work. There should be an independent chairman, appointed by the Minister of Health. The supreme importance of the hospital and consultant services in any comprehensive health scheme amply justifies the contention that the Central Hospitals Board must be a statutory body; that it shall be incumbent on the Minister to consult the Board on all matters of hospital planning, and on any major matters of principle affecting the hospital service; and that the Board shall be free to publish its own reports on the work is has done, and of the advice it has given to the Minister. There should be suitable linkage between the Central Hospitals Board and the Central Advisory Body representative of the Medical Profession. (contd.)
292/847/2/33 |
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| Physical Description: | TEXT |