Abstract
IN "Health Abounding", issued by the Social Credit Party, 2 Fitzroy Street, London, W.1, Dr. A. T. Westlake describes the aims of the health service which is planned by the Social Credit Party. Dr. Westlake begins with some telling remarks about our existing health services and about the Government's proposals for a national health service. Our existing health services are complex and confused, and we fail to apply the knowledge that we possess. Health is largely dependent on our ability to pay for it, in spite of numerous charities and the altruism of the medical profession. Our existing health organization has, Dr. Westlake thinks, produced a magnificent service; but it contains fatal flaws, the most glaring of which is the making of a living out of ill-health. The Government's proposals for a national health scheme and the Beveridge proposals have brought matters to a head. All seem to be agreed that the future medical service will be a complete and comprehensive one covering everybody, but the problem is how best to create it. The Medical Practitioners' Union, the Socialist Medical Association and several other bodies advocate a State Medical Service; the British Medical Association seeks a compromise between the old system and the new proposals. A State medical service under present conditions can only mean, Dr. Westlake argues, rigid control of both medical man and patient, with strict certification. The Government's White Paper is not a health scheme, but a medical and sickness service; it is not a free service, for it is to be paid for by taxation, rates and social insurance. The only basis upon which can we have a free State medical service which leaves the medical man a free agent is, Dr. Westlake thinks, the Social Credit System.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
A National Health Service. Nature 155, 422 (1945). https://doi.org/10.1038/155422a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/155422a0