Statement in regard to the Minister of Health's White Paper on the establishment of "A National Health Service."
1944 1944 1940s 18 pages observations apply to the Dental Board and the General Nursing Council. The Dentists are badly organised and so are the pharmacists. As regards the reference to nursing and midwifery this is not specifically directed to real vocational organisations or Trades Unions, but des...
| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
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| Language: | English English |
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[1944]
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/3632F4B9-8703-4D73-AA57-92E487C81AEE http://hdl.handle.net/10796/81900FA6-FDC0-480E-8745-790231F1BDA3 |
| Summary: | 1944
1944
1940s
18 pages
observations apply to the Dental Board and the General Nursing Council. The Dentists are badly organised and so are the pharmacists. As regards the reference to nursing and midwifery this is not specifically directed to real vocational organisations or Trades Unions, but designedly to make a place for unrepresentative bodies like the Central Midwives Board; General Nursing Council and especially the Royal College of Nursing, and perhaps, the Matron's Association. Democratic representation, even in a coalition Government containing Labour Ministers (all whole-heartedly supporters of Trade Unionism) has perforce to eat the 'leek' presented by professional reaction and its associated satellities [satellites]. This Council, with its planning perspective and objective, may be possessed of great powers and influence later on, and true representation of all Health Workers hear, elected from democratic organisations, is the crucial question in its composition. The Council will have power of establishing sub-committees and powers of special co-option to such minor bodies on special problems, whilst retaining responsibility for "all views or advice expressed in its name." A secretariate paid out of public funds will be provided, and the appointment of members by the Minister of Health will be "in consultation with the professional and other organisations concerned." Members of Trade Unions will note with vigilant eye:- (i) That there is a distinction between the adjectives 'professional' and 'vocational'. (ii) That the term 'organisations' may include any existing or future orgaisations [organisations], endemocratic [undemocratic] and unrepresentative, to which the Minister may be attracted by professional pull or intrigue, or insistent calls or influential tugging. (iii) That Trade Unionists will have to fight, probably in a fierce struggle for even representation, let alone adequate representation, in a body overloaded by outside cliques, claiming to justify representation of undefined Health interests. The more one examines the proposals the more one discovers that the scheme is "Totalitarian" in its make-up. The Representatives are responsible to no-one other than the Minister of Health. The voice of the people is silenced. As far as Hospital administration is concerned (excluding voluntary hospitals) note the relegation of resposibility [responsibility] from the people. Boards of Guardians, the first statutory body appointed for the care of the sick and afflicted ... Elected by ballot. County and County Borough Councils to whom Boards of Guardians functions were transferred ... Elected by ballot. Central Health Services Council, who presumable [presumably] will by directive planning develop the services ... Nominated by the Minister of Health. Nominees to be "experts" mainly medical. House Unions, so resented by and hareful [hateful] to, real Trade Unionism claiming representation on doubtful paying membership, insistent on their own existence and membership, and above all, recognition, deny to the lower grades of Hospital employees the right to create their own organisational machinery. This denial is often carried out by threats of penalisation in the event of the employee persisting in membership of the selected organisation of his own choice. Yet such organisations i.e. the House Unions and specialised associations, persist in their recognition by the Government and by devious methods obtain such recognition. We feel that the Trade Unions should make a definite stand against the Government in the following manner:- (i) Insistent that adequate representation shall be granted the T.U.C. on all such Councils established by the Minister under the White Paper. 6.
292/847/2/43 |
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| Physical Description: | TEXT |