The Health Services White Paper : The Labour Party's policy

1944-09 1944 1940s 22 pages Confidential Labour Party R.D.R. 272/September, 1944. Public Health Advisory Committee THE HEALTH SERVICES WHITE PAPER The Labour Party's Policy Contents I. Introduction II. The Essential Proposals III. The Administration IV. The General Practitioner Servi...

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Institution:MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
Language:English
English
Published: September 1944
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10796/9F9CB9F4-1181-40A7-85A4-D51DC327C277
http://hdl.handle.net/10796/83BD8267-E430-4EE2-B14A-E6ED9107147A
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Summary:1944-09 1944 1940s 22 pages Confidential Labour Party R.D.R. 272/September, 1944. Public Health Advisory Committee THE HEALTH SERVICES WHITE PAPER The Labour Party's Policy Contents I. Introduction II. The Essential Proposals III. The Administration IV. The General Practitioner Service Examined V. The Hospital and Specialist Service Examined VI. Other Parts of the Service Examined VII. Finance 1. INTRODUCTION The Government's White Paper on A National Health Service is a milestone on the way to a healthy nation. But at present it is only a paper plan. There will be many hard fights ahead before the plan becomes the law, and much hard work before the law bears fruit. The Labour Party is ready for the hard fights and the hard work. Many people and many interests will try to modify the plan in their favour. For the Labour Party there can be only one standard by which to judge each proposal and each modification. Is it for the good of the people of Britain? Will it promote their health? Or will it help some sectional interest? The White Paper is a complicated document, with many proposals. From these we have to pick out the essentials, on which there must be no compromise. Then we must examine the less essential proposals and the details, and see how, they can be improved. We must look closely at the ways the plan will be attacked, and find out how to defend and counter-attack. Finally, we must look at the money side. It will be no good spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar - as the Lloyd George scheme was spoiled in 1913. There is one thing more. Because the Health Plan is so complicated, and because it comes at a time when the thoughts of the people are on other things, there is a danger that public opinion may miss its chance to let the Government know what it wants. If the people back the plan, its enemies will go down. If the people let it go by default, then the vested interests will fight with skill and cunning because they will see their chance. So it is the duty of every member of the Labour Party and of the Trades Union Movement to explain the plan to everyone. Then we may be sure it will become the law. And it will bear fruit a thousandfold. 292/847/3/166
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