- Email: [email protected]
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FUND
1081 research in the laboratory. It will form a tangible and memorial to Ian Aird, who did so much to foster this idea. The bridge, which will be 9 storeys above the ground and over 20 yards long, will cost E20.000. This sum is not available from ordinary sources; we are therefore appealing for help from Aird’s former associates and students (many of whom will have heard from one of us already), and from all those throughout the world who are grateful for his friendship, his teaching, and his writings. Will those who wish to help please send donations to us, payable to the Postgraduate Medical School Extension Fund ? We will be glad to supply deeds of covenant for those who prefer to use them. SELWYN TAYLOR
imaginative
Dean
R. B. WELBOURN Professor of Surgery.
Postgraduate Medical School, Ducane Road, London, W.12.
The Ministries concerned were taking action to see that all these plans were not frustrated by lack of social workers. One of the things that the Government, to its regret, had not been able to do was to abolish the remaining prescription
charges. Turning to what he described as " work in progress Mr. Houghton said that the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance had completed its inquiry into the circumstances of retired pensioners. A survey was also being made " of the unsettled, the homeless and restless people, the homeless alcoholics, the crude-spirit drinkers, discharged prisoners, the homeless mentally disturbed people, the social misfits and drifters ". A survey was being made of the accommodation available for these people and of how many were sleeping rough. Studies were also being made of the relation between fiscal welfare and positive welfare-i.e., child allowances for taxation and family allowances; services for the elderly, the chronic sick, and the handicapped; and the employment of the older worker.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FUND like to remind those who have not yet should SiR,—I the President’s to appeal that it is our custom to responded distribute the gifts in good time for Christmas. I hope that all who can will as soon as possible send their contributions, marked " Christmas Gifts," to the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund at the new address: 24, King’s Road, Wimbledon, London, S.W.19. G. H. BATEMAN Honorary Treasurer, Royal Medical Benevolent Fund.
A Fresh
Beginning
On Nov. 10, the second day of the new session, the Earl of Arran introduced in the House of Lords a Bill " to amend the law of England and Wales relating to homosexual acts."
Abortion Bill On Nov. 11 Lord SILKIN introduced in the House of Lords his Bill to amend the law relating to termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioners.
QUESTION
TIME
Hospital Beds in Teaching Hospitals
Parliament Social Legislation for the New Session ON Nov. 10, in the debate on the Queen’s speech, Mr. DOUGLAS HOUGHTON, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, some further details of the social legislation mentioned in the Gracious Speech. The Government had decided that the proposed earnings-related short-term benefits were to include sickness and industrial-injury benefits as well as unemployment benefits. Many social and administrative problems were difficult to overcome if sickness was separated from unemployment. Some of the proposals in the family doctors’ new charter would require legislation. In particular, the Government had undertaken to introduce a Bill to set up a finance corporation to help family doctors with the provision of premises. Negotiations between the Minister of Health and the medical profession were still not complete, but the profession had agreed to a new system of remuneration which was to go to the Review Body for pricing. He hoped that when the rest of the negotiations had been completed and the Review Body had carried out its task that the way would be open for a transformed and revitalised family-doctor service. This year nearly E70 million was to be spent on hospital building. A comprehensive and realistic review had been undertaken by hospital authorities at the request of the Minister of Health. Special attention was being paid to early improvement of facilities for the mentally ill and subnormal and for the elderly sick. The Minister had asked hospital authorities to draw up their plans in consultation with the local authorities. Current expenditure on local health services was expected to be rising by 6/3% a year in real terms by 1969-70, compared with 51/2 % in recent years. The figure for local welfare services was even more encouraging—7% last year. The most rapid expansion was in the mental-health services. The current expenditure in 1969-70 was likely to be at least double that of 1964-65. The Government was about to appoint a small independent committee to review the organisation and responsibilities of the local-authority personal social services and consider what changes were desirable to ensure an effective family service. gave
Mr. L. A. PAVITT asked the Minister how many hospital beds there were in the area served by the former London and Middlesex County Councils; how many were governed by teaching hospitals, and how many were under the administration of regional hospital boards ; and what estimate he had made of the number which were likely to be transferred to teaching hospitals in the next year.-Mr. K. ROBINSON replied: In National Health Service hospitals, 51,639; of these, 15,654 are administered by boards of governors of teaching hospitals and 35,985 by regional hospital boards. I am considering further proposals for transfer of beds to teaching hospitals, but have not yet made any decisions.
Corned Beef Mr. W. R. VAN STRAUBENZEE asked the Minister of Health whether, in response to representations from the National Grocers’ Federation and others, he would now order the small stocks of suspect corned beef remaining in private hands to be destroyed.-Mr. KENNETH ROBINSON replied: This would not be justified on health grounds since the stocks could be rendered safe for human consumption. Mr. VAN STRAUBENZEE: Will the Minister realise that this question refers back to an answer by the Parliamentary Secretary on Nov. 1, which appeared to indicate that there were stocks in private hands in respect of which he had not received assurances that they would not be released to the market ?Mr. ROBINSON: I know that there is public concern about this matter but I am advised that, provided it is reprocessed by an approved method, this meat would be safe for human consumption. The representations of that Question were made to the Minister of Agriculture, and any Question about withholding of these stocks on commercial grounds should be addressed to him. Mr. MARCUS LIPTON : As the Government have taken care to ensure that by far the greater part of this consignment shall not come on to the market, wliy are they so reluctant to take drastic action in the case of this small section which is in private hands ?-Mr. ROBINSON: I can give an assurance that no relevant cans from the canning establishment associated by the committee of inquiry with the Aberdeen typhoid outbreak will be disposed of in this country for any purpose.
imaginative
Dean
R. B. WELBOURN Professor of Surgery.
Postgraduate Medical School, Ducane Road, London, W.12.
The Ministries concerned were taking action to see that all these plans were not frustrated by lack of social workers. One of the things that the Government, to its regret, had not been able to do was to abolish the remaining prescription
charges. Turning to what he described as " work in progress Mr. Houghton said that the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance had completed its inquiry into the circumstances of retired pensioners. A survey was also being made " of the unsettled, the homeless and restless people, the homeless alcoholics, the crude-spirit drinkers, discharged prisoners, the homeless mentally disturbed people, the social misfits and drifters ". A survey was being made of the accommodation available for these people and of how many were sleeping rough. Studies were also being made of the relation between fiscal welfare and positive welfare-i.e., child allowances for taxation and family allowances; services for the elderly, the chronic sick, and the handicapped; and the employment of the older worker.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FUND like to remind those who have not yet should SiR,—I the President’s to appeal that it is our custom to responded distribute the gifts in good time for Christmas. I hope that all who can will as soon as possible send their contributions, marked " Christmas Gifts," to the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund at the new address: 24, King’s Road, Wimbledon, London, S.W.19. G. H. BATEMAN Honorary Treasurer, Royal Medical Benevolent Fund.
A Fresh
Beginning
On Nov. 10, the second day of the new session, the Earl of Arran introduced in the House of Lords a Bill " to amend the law of England and Wales relating to homosexual acts."
Abortion Bill On Nov. 11 Lord SILKIN introduced in the House of Lords his Bill to amend the law relating to termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioners.
QUESTION
TIME
Hospital Beds in Teaching Hospitals
Parliament Social Legislation for the New Session ON Nov. 10, in the debate on the Queen’s speech, Mr. DOUGLAS HOUGHTON, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, some further details of the social legislation mentioned in the Gracious Speech. The Government had decided that the proposed earnings-related short-term benefits were to include sickness and industrial-injury benefits as well as unemployment benefits. Many social and administrative problems were difficult to overcome if sickness was separated from unemployment. Some of the proposals in the family doctors’ new charter would require legislation. In particular, the Government had undertaken to introduce a Bill to set up a finance corporation to help family doctors with the provision of premises. Negotiations between the Minister of Health and the medical profession were still not complete, but the profession had agreed to a new system of remuneration which was to go to the Review Body for pricing. He hoped that when the rest of the negotiations had been completed and the Review Body had carried out its task that the way would be open for a transformed and revitalised family-doctor service. This year nearly E70 million was to be spent on hospital building. A comprehensive and realistic review had been undertaken by hospital authorities at the request of the Minister of Health. Special attention was being paid to early improvement of facilities for the mentally ill and subnormal and for the elderly sick. The Minister had asked hospital authorities to draw up their plans in consultation with the local authorities. Current expenditure on local health services was expected to be rising by 6/3% a year in real terms by 1969-70, compared with 51/2 % in recent years. The figure for local welfare services was even more encouraging—7% last year. The most rapid expansion was in the mental-health services. The current expenditure in 1969-70 was likely to be at least double that of 1964-65. The Government was about to appoint a small independent committee to review the organisation and responsibilities of the local-authority personal social services and consider what changes were desirable to ensure an effective family service. gave
Mr. L. A. PAVITT asked the Minister how many hospital beds there were in the area served by the former London and Middlesex County Councils; how many were governed by teaching hospitals, and how many were under the administration of regional hospital boards ; and what estimate he had made of the number which were likely to be transferred to teaching hospitals in the next year.-Mr. K. ROBINSON replied: In National Health Service hospitals, 51,639; of these, 15,654 are administered by boards of governors of teaching hospitals and 35,985 by regional hospital boards. I am considering further proposals for transfer of beds to teaching hospitals, but have not yet made any decisions.
Corned Beef Mr. W. R. VAN STRAUBENZEE asked the Minister of Health whether, in response to representations from the National Grocers’ Federation and others, he would now order the small stocks of suspect corned beef remaining in private hands to be destroyed.-Mr. KENNETH ROBINSON replied: This would not be justified on health grounds since the stocks could be rendered safe for human consumption. Mr. VAN STRAUBENZEE: Will the Minister realise that this question refers back to an answer by the Parliamentary Secretary on Nov. 1, which appeared to indicate that there were stocks in private hands in respect of which he had not received assurances that they would not be released to the market ?Mr. ROBINSON: I know that there is public concern about this matter but I am advised that, provided it is reprocessed by an approved method, this meat would be safe for human consumption. The representations of that Question were made to the Minister of Agriculture, and any Question about withholding of these stocks on commercial grounds should be addressed to him. Mr. MARCUS LIPTON : As the Government have taken care to ensure that by far the greater part of this consignment shall not come on to the market, wliy are they so reluctant to take drastic action in the case of this small section which is in private hands ?-Mr. ROBINSON: I can give an assurance that no relevant cans from the canning establishment associated by the committee of inquiry with the Aberdeen typhoid outbreak will be disposed of in this country for any purpose.