The People's Health

1943-10 1943 1940s 36 pages The function of the Board would be to advise the Ministry on the utilising of all existing services, on accommodation and on development and administration. In addition there should be a Joint Consultative Board to advise on wages, salaries and conditions and to be applie...

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Bibliographic Details
Institution:MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
Language:English
English
Published: Newcastle-on-Tyne : North-East District Committee, Communist Party 1943
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10796/7F90A9E4-E063-4A8D-AB4C-5B56A88A96A3
http://hdl.handle.net/10796/ABFCAACA-10C7-48EC-8D66-9DC523CB3A4C
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Summary:1943-10 1943 1940s 36 pages The function of the Board would be to advise the Ministry on the utilising of all existing services, on accommodation and on development and administration. In addition there should be a Joint Consultative Board to advise on wages, salaries and conditions and to be applied to all employed in the health services — their recruitment and training. This Board should be made up of representatives from the Central Board of Health and from the appropriate trade unions. As finance is one of the most serious considerations facing the Board, I would suggest that it should set up a Central Fund to which the local authorities should subscribe on a proper assessment of ability to pay and on needs. The voluntary Hospitals should pay to this Central Fund too, until the time arrives when they have become fully absorbed in a National Health Service. The ordinary National Health Insurance contribution should be paid into the Fund too and any balance should be met by the Exchequer. With regard to the administration, as I have already pointed out, we have got to make certain that there is elected representation and that it is run on a fully democratic basis. The people must be represented and represented by men and women who will give active service in their interests. We do not want a bunch of "Yes-men" on the Boards. Regional Boards should be established along similar lines with the same democratic electoral basis and with the same Joint Consultative Boards. Medical and hospital treatment should be free and available for all without distinction. This is the most vital thing the people of this country want and I agree with the demands made by the Communist Party for action and the power of the Labour Movement and other progressive sections to be used to bring about these great and important changes. We may differ on minor points, but we are in complete agreement on the major question of a National Health Service to provide for all the needs of all the people. I hope that from this Conference we shall all go forward and press with all our might for the adoption of such a service by the Government without delay. "The provision of school meals provides an ideal opportunity for combining the improvement in the nutrition of school children with their education on food values, on how to cook food and prepare wholesome and attractive meals. But education is of little value to the poorer part of the population unless the kind of diet they are told should be eaten is within their purchasing power. A scheme to make the right kind of food available should precede an educational campaign. The war has forced us to adopt a food policy based on the nutritional needs of the people. Soldiers and munition workers have to be maintained in the highest possible state of fighting and working efficiency, and for the maintenance of the morale of the nation the people have to be fed as well as possible." From "Food and the People" by Sir John Boyd Orr. 25 15X/2/103/295
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