NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 9, Issue 227, 29 October 1943, Page 3

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

| Sir,-A certain tendency to wanton and irrelevant carping which I have noticed of late in your book reviewer I dismissed at first as temporary indisposition on his part; but now that this state of mind (or body) has become chronic, I am moved to protest about his so-called review of A National Health Service, which is unfair from beginning to end (including the heading). As your reviewer has not gone so far as to discuss the merits of the scheme put forward in the book, I shall also brush that little matter aside, But the book, to my mind, certainly does not give the impression that these ‘eight doctors cannot reach agreement on the fundamentals of the fairly definite scheme they propose. Moreover, I find it refreshing, rather than a ground of complaint, that the authors invite the opinions of such as myself, who will not only be financing such services, but providing their raw material. And if eight doctors are prepered to put some time and trouble into evolving plans for an- adequate medical service, which would remove a major nightmare from the average family, I'll consider it a better half-crown’s worth than most articles that coin will buy these days. Just under fourpence per doctor. Your reviewer should be thankful it’s not guineas,

FRANCESCA

(Auckland).

(Our reviewer says in reply: "If ‘Fran. cesca’ believes that the authors of A National Health Service agree about the scheme: she has more knowledge than is conveyed in the book itself, since the authors distinctly say in their preface (1) that their plans and proposals are provisional; (2) at not every member of the group would identify himself or herself with the statements and opinions expressed; (3) that agreement has been reached only upon ‘the general direction approved and marked out,’ They then ask for suggestions and criticism.’’)