DEPENDS ON DOCTORS.

Chronicle (Levin), 29 July 1946, Page 8

DEPENDS ON DOCTORS.

Received Sundav, 7 p.m. LONHON, July 26. "The national health scheme is taking from the Tories oue of the eliief sourcts of social and political patronage, " said the Minister of. Health (Mr. Aneurin Bevan), replylng in the House of Commohs to tlie third reading debate on tlie National Health Service Bill. ]Mr. Bevan said the Bill emanctpated vohmtary medical workers from tlie indignity of having to collect from private charity. This was the real reason for the bit.terness of the Opposition. The scheme would offer more scope for voluntarv service, because tlie volunteers would be more eflieient when enianeipated from linancial liinitat ions. Mr. Bevan declared tliat eminent s.|)okesnien in Ihe medical profossion had becoine the inost reaclionary politicians iii Britain, but lie believed that tlie profession as a whole would work Ihe scheme wholeheartedly. He added tliat, if tlie medical profession was to be manned effect ively, it would be li'ecessary to derive more doctors from tlie lower groups than previdusl.y. II e emphasised that the Minister of Health had no part in the new administration and had not the slightest control over the professional conduct of the doctors. "We want to leave controversies behind and to get. the co-operation of the medical profession and health workers, witliout. which tlie scheme is bound to fail," lie added. An Opposition amendment to reject tlie third reading was defeated by 261 votes to 113.