Essentials for a health service
1946 1946 1940s 12 pages modifications will be necessary. For instance, if the best use is to be made of medical and other expert advice, the chosen experts (who should be representative of all types of health workers) should be an integral part of the planning committees. Their constant co-operatio...
| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
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| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
London : Communist Party
1946
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/748DEA84-AF2B-4F2D-AAF4-C8C12653C8AF http://hdl.handle.net/10796/CD5D6D2F-86C8-421D-9696-1A448CF9CCA1 |
| Summary: | 1946
1946
1940s
12 pages
modifications will be necessary. For instance, if the best use is to be made of medical and other expert advice, the chosen experts (who should be representative of all types of health workers) should be an integral part of the planning committees. Their constant co-operation here will be of great value, and should prove much more effective than if they were only members of a separate advisory local health service council (as envisaged in the White Paper). The objections that have been raised to Joint Boards could be met by careful definition of the powers of the Boards. They should be responsible for the planning of the health services of their own areas up to the standards requited from time to time by the Ministry of Health. They will have to make (and maintain) a survey of local health needs; they should decide if and where new provision of services is required; and should be responsible, too, for the assessment of financial requirements and for obtaining and distributing centrally provided grants. On the other hand, we suggest the Joint Boards should not take over the hospitals or other units belonging to the constituent authorities as a general rule, as this would not only add unnecessarily to the amount of administrative change required, but would detract from local interest and local pride in the efficiency of the people's hospitals, clinics, etc., and would leave the control of these units in the hands of a body not directly elected as representatives of the people. It is possible, too, that in this way such a scheme could be carried on, without the necessity for the Joint Boards having to precept upon the constituent local authorities. In order to develop and maintain a high standard of health services uniformly throughout the country, the local authorities will require considerable help and advice. We ask the Minister of Health, therefore, to consider setting up a central body, largely technical or expert in composition, with two duties: (a) to define the standards required in the health services — e.g., the needed amount of hospital accommodation, the size of the maternity services, the requirements of a health centre service, etc., in relation to population density and distribution; (b) to assist and advise the Joint Boards and their executives in the preparation and implementation of their plans. Such a body would not be a bureaucratic executive but would operate by defining as indicated above the objectives to be 11
15X/2/103/357 |
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| Physical Description: | TEXT |