The Hospital Problem : the Report of a Special Conference of Labour, Hospital, Medical and kindred Societies
1924 1924 1920s 12 pages THE LABOUR PARTY AND THE HOSPITAL PROBLEM. Reprinted by permission from the Supplement to the "British Medical Journal," May 3rd, 1924. A conference, summoned by the Executive Committee of the Labour party, and consisting of representatives of the Labour mo...
| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
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| Language: | English English |
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London : The Labour Party ; printed at the Office of the British Medical Association
1924
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/FB4A423A-12C5-4050-8A2A-67B443ED068E http://hdl.handle.net/10796/186FEB7F-3431-4525-9339-F5012A394C46 |
| Summary: | 1924
1924
1920s
12 pages
THE LABOUR PARTY AND THE HOSPITAL PROBLEM. Reprinted by permission from the Supplement to the "British Medical Journal," May 3rd, 1924. A conference, summoned by the Executive Committee of the Labour party, and consisting of representatives of the Labour movement and of various hospital, medical, and kindred bodies, was held at Caxton Hall, Westminster, on April 28th and 29th, for the discussion of various aspects of hospital policy. The topic for discussion at the four sessions was stated as "Should further State aid be given for the extension and maintenance of hospital accommodation?" and the point of view of Labour (Mr. Somerville Hastings, M.P., F.R.C.S.), of the voluntary hospitals (Lord Knutsford), and of the doctors (Mr. Bishop Harman, F.R.C.S., Chairman of the Hospitals Committee of the British Medical Association) were presented respectively by the gentlemen named, while the final session was devoted to the consideration of the State- and rate-aided hospitals, when the opener was Dr. John Buchan, M.O.H. Bradford. The following organizations were represented: British Medical Association; Medical Practitioners' Union; Medical Women's Federation; Federation of Medical and Allied Services; The Sheffield Joint Hospitals' Council; Montagu Hospital, Mexborough; British Dental Association; Royal British Nurses' Association; The College of Nursing, Ltd.; National Council of Trained Nurses of Great Britain and Ireland; The Professional Union of Trained Nurses; Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses; The General Nursing Council for England and Wales; Joint Committee of Approved Societies; The National Association of Trade Union Approved Societies; National Conference of Industrial Assurance Approved Societies; The Association of Approved Societies; National Association of Insurance Committees; National Federation of Employees' Approved Societies; The Incorporated Association of Approved Society Secretaries, Ltd.; National Conference of Friendly Societies; Panel Committee for the County of London; Hospital Saturday Fund; King Edward's Hospital Fund for London; The Hospital Saving Association; The British Charities Association; The British Red Cross Society; Standing Joint Committee of Industrial Women's Organizations; The People's League of Health; The League of Mercy; Royal Institute of Public Health; British Hospitals Association; St. George's Hospital; St. Bartholomew's Hospital; London Hospital; St. Thomas's Hospital; University College Hospital; Executive Committee of the Labour Party; Labour Party's Advisory Committee on Public Health. Mr. Herbert Morrison, M.P., took the chair at the opening session. The Prime Minister's Letter. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, who was prevented by another engagement from opening the conference, wrote in the following terms: I am sorry that an engagement in my constituency will prevent my giving a word of welcome in person to the friends who are to attend the conference the party has summoned to consider the hospital problem. "No section of the community professing to have the welfare of the people at heart can afford to ignore the straits into which the war and its economic aftermath have placed so many of our hospitals. The policy of drift that has led to the neglect of reform in so many departments of life and government — and in particular the housing of the working classes may be mentioned — has inevitably reacted to the detriment of the people. It has intensified those evils which spring from overcrowding and a low vitality, and has accentuated the difficulties of those public authorities and voluntary agencies alike which have been striving to cope with disease and the pain and suffering that accompany it. "Our hospital system — if such a chaos as now exists can be dignified by such a title — has been and still remains a symptom of our inadequate civic organization. In intention it typifies the goodheartedness of our people; in practice it exemplifies the co-operation of hand and brain workers in the work of the world for which our movement stands; but in effect it falls far short of the achievements that its keenest friends and supporters desire. "Pending the day when the country becomes more fully aware of the need for prevention — the prevention of destitution as of disease — we cannot stand idly by and allow our curative centres to suffer from neglect. The time has come for a survey of the whole field of hospital activity; for a finer realization of the part that medical men and nurses, hospital managers and administrators, play in the life of the people, and, above all, for the devising of ways and means whereby the great services thus rendered may be pursued free from the unhealthy methods by which some of our hospitals have had to seek finance in these latter days. "In this sphere of our national life, as in so many others, the needs of the time demand the application of the scientific spirit, the co-ordination of effort, and the elimination of waste. I feel very strongly that society has never yet appreciated and valued the labours of those great public servants who, often without fee, reward, or publicity, are striving in the fine spirit of true scientific research to reduce the sufferings and increase the health of our frail bodies. "It is something new for a political party to seek to study problems of this kind, but I feel sure that nothing but gain can follow a frank discussion between Labour people and the representatives of those various sections of the public who in one way and another seek to bind the wounds and succour the distresses of so many thousands of our suffering fellow-citizens. "I trust your discussions will be pursued with the utmost thoroughness and understanding, and that some common and wise policy may be their outcome." The Chairman said that the probable explanation of the fact that the Labour party and representatives of hospitals and other health organizations of a voluntary character had come together in conference was that no section of the community was more interested in the management and conduct of the great hospitals of the country than Labour members and supporters. The hospitals were established to cater in the main for working people. Whatever criticisms the Labour party might make with regard to the present hospital situation, it was nevertheless true that the hospitals had done a great work for the working people, of which the Labour party was deeply appreciative. But in the minds of many Labour people there was a doubt as to whether hospitals on a voluntary basis outside public financial support and control could meet the situation. If it could be shown that the voluntary hospitals secured to the community adequate and effective service, the Labour party would not persist in any demand for State control. The sole test to be applied was the possibility of securing such a service in the public interest. [199/24]
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