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    By David Stark Murray in NHS history, Private Medicine

    Hospital Waiting Lists

    June 16, 2018

    A discussion document prepared by a sub-committee for the S.M.A. Central Council Published by The Socialist Medical Association 13 Prince of Wales Terrace, London, W.8 6d. It is not necessary to be a socialist to realise that the National Health Service is being strangulated by lack of money. A vast sum is required to develop its potential into a service capable of utilising the increasing possibilities of modem techniques and discoveries for the treatment and prevention of disease. Money is required to train sufficient doctors, nurses, technical and administrative staff; to build and equip hospitals and health centres; to launch an […]
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    By Martin Rathfelder in Labour Health Policy

    NOTES FOR DISCUSSION GROUPS

    June 15, 2018

    NOTES FOR DISCUSSION GROUPS ON NATIONAL SERVICE FOR HEALTH Introductory Note The Labour Party’s Policy is contained in the official pamphlet, National Service for Health (price 2d). It is set out clearly in chapters with appropriate cross-headings and sub-headings, and is presented in a form that will be found convenient for study and discussion by Local Groups. The object of these Discussion Notes is to stress main principles, call attention to special points, and provide additional factual matter. They should be taken in conjunction with the pamphlet. CHAPTER I (Pages 2, 3, 4) WHAT MEDICAL SERVICES DO WE NEED? The health of […]
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    By Chiozza Money in NHS history

    A Nation Insured

    June 15, 2018

    AUTHOR’S PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. I HAVE written this little book for love, and the Liberal Publication Department are publishing it without profit, in order to spread knowledge of the details of a great measure of legislation which will affect a member or members of nearly every household in the land. The author appeals to the reader to help him in his task by assisting to circulate this work. Since the first edition was issued, it has unhappily become apparent that there are quarters in which it has been determined to deny fair play to the Act and to create prejudice against it. It is therefore incumbent […]
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    By Martin Rathfelder in Labour Health Policy

    A State Health Service

    June 14, 2018

    Presented to the Labour Party Conference 1934 A STATE HEALTH SERVICE A Sub-Committee appointed by the National Executive Committee has had under consideration recent Annual Conference resolutions relating to a State Medical Service, and has prepared the following Preliminary Report. Because of the complicated nature of the subject, and in particular the difficult relationship of National Health Insurance, the Approved Societies, the Medical Profession, and the local Public Medical Services, it has been thought desirable to seek the general views of Conference on the proposed lines of policy, before asking the Sub-Committee to proceed to further detail. PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS At the […]
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    By Martin Rathfelder in Labour Health Policy

    For Socialism and Peace

    June 14, 2018

      Presented to the Labour Party Conference 1934 Health Services Labour proposes to utilise medical discovery to the full in the service of the nation. The extension of the maternity and child welfare services, the strict public control of private nursing and maternity homes, the adequate care of children in the pre-school years, the large-scale development of open-air nursery schools, are all urgent matters. The disastrous “economies” in the School Medical Service should be ended, and increased provision made for the  treatment of ailments. The provision of school meals must be greatly developed. Far more special schools and classes are needed for children with physical or mental […]
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    By Sonia Adesara in Discrimination, London, Migration

    Grenfell, Lessons Not Learned

    June 14, 2018

    Grenfell laid raw the harsh realities for many living in London today. Many stories unfolded in the aftermath. There was the tale of two cities. The question of worth. The story of inexcusable inequality, and lives cut short by political failings. There was also the story of invisibility and fear. The undocumented migrants who died in the fire, forever anonymous, and the survivors who went into hiding, too scared to seek help. I went to Grenfell with the charity Doctors of the world UK, a week after the fire. At Westway, the pop-up relief centre, we enquired who to liaise […]
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    By Somerville Hastings in Labour Health Policy

    Health Service debate 1934 Labour Party Conference

    June 14, 2018

    In 1934 the National Executive Policy Sub-committee appointed four Sub-committees.  The Medical Services sub-committee consisted of: Dr. H. B. Morgan (Chairman), Rt. Hon. Christopher Addison,M.D., Dr. Somerville Hastings, Dr. C. W. Brook, Dr. H. Finer, Dr. R. Lyster, Dr. Oscar Tobin, Dr. Esther Rickards, with Miss Mabel Croat, and Messrs. I. J. Hayward, C. W. Key, J. A. Newrick, E. G. Rowlinson, Lewis Silkin, and J. L. Smyth. The Local Government and Social Services Committee also set up special Sub-Committees to deal with “A State Medical Service,” the “Welfare of the Blind,” and “Water Supply.” Conference Debate October 1934 in Southport The CHAIRMAN: The […]
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    By Andy Fugard in Mental Health, NHS Funding

    How to find money to save the NHS

    June 14, 2018

    Tuesday morning was the launch of the Resolution Foundation report, Healthy finances? Options for funding an NHS spending increase – a response to the rumoured government “birthday present” for the NHS as it turns 70 on 5 July 2018. The audience included party advisers (I spotted a Whatsapp group chat for a party’s comms team), people from various think-tanks, academics (including an Emeritus Professor from Imperial who had a lot to say), and a representative from at least one (non-militant, at least in the room) campaigning group. The line up: Sarah Wollaston MP, Chair of the Health Select Committee and medic who worked as a […]
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    By Jessica Ormerod in Democracy, NHS reorganisation

    3 things you need to know about the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s report into Integrated Care

    June 13, 2018

    On 11 June 2018 the Common’s Health and Social Care Committee published the result of their inquiry into Integrated Care: organisations, partnerships and systems.   Anyone who observes Sarah Wollaston will notice that from time to time she confounds expectations and raises concerns about what her party is doing in government, notably on her strongly worded letters to the Home Office on the treatment of immigrants within the NHS. Although her voting record shows a reluctance to translate strong statements into protest in the division lobby. There was, therefore, a glimmer of hope over her chairing of the committee when she […]
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    By Jessica Ormerod in Competition and markets, Health and Social Care Act 2012, Privatisation

    Legislation, Privatisation and the NHS

    June 13, 2018

    Privatisation has been the economic policy of successive governments since the 1970s. All the major infrastructure, utilities and manufacturing industries which had been brought into public ownership in the immediate post-war period have been sold off, as single share offers, wholesale private transfers, or partial staged transfers. Privatisation has been developed through the remaining public services, with local authorities increasingly turning into commissioning hubs rather than direct employers, education transferring its assets and management to the private sector through the Academy programme and courts, prisons and more being owned and run by the private sector.  That privatisation is government policy […]
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    By Jon Ashworth in Labour Health Policy

    Labour’s Five Tests For The Government

    June 13, 2018

    Jeremy Hunt has considerably heightened expectations for the so called birthday present for the NHS later this month telling us to expect ‘significant’ investment. We know the NHS is experiencing the biggest financial squeeze in its history and on current projections the Conservatives are breaking their manifesto promise for real terms head for head rises every year of the Parliament. Public health and training budgets have been cut, and the capital budgets raided with the consequence we have a £5billion backlog for repairs. NHS Trusts ended 2017/18 with a deficit of £960million; £464million above the plan set for the year […]
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    By Corrie Lowry in Maternity

    Safe Births for Babies and Mothers

    June 12, 2018

    This has been written as a response to Baroness Julia Cumberlege’s Better Births in England: a Five Year Forward View for maternity care.  Baroness Cumberlege recently opened a ‘pop –up’ birthing centre in Seacombe , Wirral. As a health campaigner, although the centre appeared very good in many ways, it appeared to fall far short of providing the safest place for a baby to be born.  This centre is part of a trial of 3 centres in England, 2 of which are to be in some of the most deprived areas of Merseyside.   Wirral CCG was emailed about safety issues such as […]
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