HEALTH SERVICES IN GREAT BRITAIN

Abstract

DR. JOAN McMICHAEL, speaking on February 21 at a Conference on Health attended by trade union leaders and held at the Conway Hall, London, voiced the dissatisfaction of many trade union officials and workers in the health services of Great Britain at the great loss to the war effort from illness in industry. Apart from the great increase in the incidence of tuberculosis and venereal disease, much of this morbidity is due to colds, influenza and accidents ; these were largely attributed to the influx into factories of persons unaccustomed to industrial conditions, and adversely affected by the long hours of shift work in factories.. The blackout, the inadequate arrangements for married women, the shortage of doctors and nurses, and anxiety-states due to the War also contribute. To help reduce this loss of work she recommended the development in factories of Workers' Health Committees, as sub-committees of workers' committees or joint production committees. These new committees should act as workers' health and safety inspectors, should collaborate with medical men to conduct health education in factories, investigate the usefulness to workers of mental stimuli such as music and film, shows, suggest arrangements for special cases such as antenatal examinations for pregnant workers, and co-operate with other health-promoting bodies in the district. She further suggested that the powers of local authorities under Section 8 of the Factory Act should be extended to cover cleanliness, ventilation, lighting, temperature and overcrowding ; and that a State industrial medical service responsible to the Ministry of Health should be introduced, sharing and applying the results of research.