National Health Service Bill
1946-04 1946 1940s 10 pages - 8 - Their management lies democratically in the hands of committees elected from their supporters, usually including the patients. They have thus attracted to their service the eminent members of the medical profession. The interest and the responsibility of the work...
| Institution: | MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick |
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| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
April 1946
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10796/A3151220-FA9C-4A5B-A596-7B96B9D71873 http://hdl.handle.net/10796/332C068D-4B2C-4DB6-A1BE-3BDD76EAD9DE |
| Summary: | 1946-04
1946
1940s
10 pages
- 8 - Their management lies democratically in the hands of committees elected from their supporters, usually including the patients. They have thus attracted to their service the eminent members of the medical profession. The interest and the responsibility of the work recruits to their management men and women of wide experience in all walks of life. 52. There is the closest personal relationship between the management, the staff and the patients. Their administration works to broad principles rather than written rules. It shows a full appreciation of the value of existing local support and interest and fosters local pride as a policy. It is essentially human. 53. By close contact with the Management Committee the Medical Staff make their expert advice available on all medical matters. Every doctor is accorded full professional freedom and this applies in the treatment of patients and in matters of research. 54. The internal administration is in the hands of a competent administrator, usually a layman. From a recent trade union publication it is interesting to note that on the whole the traditional methods of administration in the voluntary hospitals are appreciated and preferred. Future 55. In their outlook for the future, the voluntary hospitals seek to continue to serve the public and effect continued improvement in their services. They have the typically British characteristic of adaptability to circumstance; and they have within recent weeks put forward a plan (as attached) enabling them, within the terms- and objects of a national health service, to continue to put at the service of the nation the whole of their accumulated experience and their continuing service. 56. They seek to work in partnership with the State or local authorities in the provision of a national comprehensive health service. To achieve this, they are prepared to forego as much independence as is necessary to secure a national service while incorporating those factors which do make for progress and for the retention of the human touch. They appreciate that a National Service must financially be the responsibility of the State. Their plan therefore provides that, in respect of services required them under the State scheme, they should no longer look to the public for voluntary income. They would however still be free to attract personal interest and public support for special purposes. These in particular include the advancement of medical research and the development of improved methods of administration and the provision of amenities for the comfort of both the patient and staff. 57. The ability of the voluntary hospitals to co-operate with other bodies is no idle speculation but proven fact - as witness the arrangements for mutual interworking between the voluntary hospitals and the local authorities as for example in Surrey - Merseyside - Leeds - Berks, Bucks and Oxon - Manchester, and elsewhere 58. On their behalf the British Hospitals Association submits that the voluntary hospitals have a great and continuing part to play in the prevention and the treatment of sickness; that it is in the interests of the nation that they should be given an opportunity to do this; and that this can be done without detriment to any of the essential principles underlying a National Health Service, to the great advantage of the community. 59. To destroy the voluntary hospitals now would be to destroy the pattern of the best in the hospital services of the country and to throw away a priceless asset in the build-up and operation of a great social measure.
292/847/4/19 |
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| Physical Description: | TEXT |