Statement in regard to the Minister of Health's White Paper on the establishment of "A National Health Service."
1944 1944 1940s 18 pages accepted principles of availability and universality of the proposed Medical Services. How does this become reconciled with the following:- "that what they get shall be the best medical and other facilities available; that their getting these shall not depend on whe...
| 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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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/1E9D1E7C-4B1D-41B8-AA3F-CDD6C2AECF82 http://hdl.handle.net/10796/12A4780B-F84D-41FD-A574-346233BE96D7 |
| Summary: | 1944
1944
1940s
18 pages
accepted principles of availability and universality of the proposed Medical Services. How does this become reconciled with the following:- "that what they get shall be the best medical and other facilities available; that their getting these shall not depend on whether they can pay for them, or on any other factor irrelevant to the real need - the real need being to bring the country's full resources to bear upon reducing ill-health and promoting good health in all its citizens." 13. LOCAL ADMINISTRATION. It has already been pointed out that the Central Medical Board though termed 'mainly professional' with a few lay members will deal almost exclusively with medical matters as the employer, on behalf of the Minister of Health, of the medical workers (doctors) mainly of the General Practitioners in the service, and presumably also of the Consultants under contract in Health Centres for domicilary visits. It has also been emphasised that the planning National Health body, the Central Health Service Council - carries no guarantee of adequate Trade Union representation of the non-medical Health Workers. Both these bodies will have local counterparts. The White Paper, however, is not clear on certain points, especially as to how exactly local authorities will be co-ordinated into the Scheme. The principle of Local Government and democratic resonsibility [responsibility] is accepted, but modern medical services need larger areas to secure efficiency, uniformity ease of administration etc., and so there will have to be 'larger local areas' administrated by Joint Health Boards of Local Authoritities [Authorities]. This will apply specially to the Hospital, presumably Institutional Services of all kinds, a difficult situation owing to the continued operation of the Duel [Dual] Hospital System. The Joint Area Board will be settled by the Minister AFTER consultation with local interests yet "the provision and administration of most of the local services (i.e. Health Services) including some new kinds of service, will normally rest with the individual county and county borough councils with only an undefined supervision by the Joint Health Authority. Who will employ the different health workers in the different institions [institutions] and services is not clearly stated. Apparently the employer will vary as between different local authorities; different voluntary hospital boards and/or Joint Health Boards. The whole working of the White Paper on terms of service, except for doctors in clinics; Local Authority Hospitals etc., are extraodinarily vague. Some local Health Services will remain in the hands of the Local Authorities as they obtain now, Others like the proposed extended service for Hospitals and Consultant specialists; dispensaries; mental clinics; cancer centres; will apparently come under the Joint authority. The services more in the line of G.P. services such as Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics (why?) will be run by the local authority. The power of the medical fraternity continues. Local Health Services Councils are to be established for the White Paper stated "EXPERT guidance is no less needed locally than it is at the centre........... These Councils will be the local counterparts of the Central Health Services Council.'' Who are the experts.? Obviously the medical men. It is intersting [interesting] to note however the last vestige of democratic control becomes subservient to these Health Services Expert Councils "The Joint Authority will be required to consult the Council on the plan for the health service BEFORE it is submitted to the Minister, and on any subsequent material alterations or additions to the plan." The joint Administrative authority is bound 'in its preparation of the plan and in its amendment to 'fully consult local professional and expert opinion through the medium of a Local Health Services Councils." This criss-cross local administration will take some working out especially as many local services will tend to rise to specialist level or the need for consultant services. Many local authorities who by years of hard work and struggle have well developed services in some directions will rightly object to being harnessed and merged in some Joint Health Authority with adjacent or neighbouring local authorities, admittedly backward in many directions and who have persistently refused to inprove [improve] their services. 10.
292/847/2/43 |
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| Physical Description: | TEXT |