CARE COMMITTEES AND HEALTH
SIR,—Your article summarising the White Paper on the proposed National Medical Service leads me to suggest that no matter how comprehensive in Intention the various schemes for improvement of social conditions may be, they will, if they are to yield their full benefit, need sympathetic administration and a careful preparation of the public mind. To be of real value a National Medical Service will require a far wider understanding than now exists of the importance of preventive health measures. Recogni- tion of this fact may, in part, be the reason why the responsibility for the medical inspection and treatment of elementary school children has been left in the hands of the Education Authority.
One authority, at least, the London County Council, saw the need for social and educational work along these lines when it established its Children's Care Committee Service more than thirty-five years ago. The good relations with the school, the friendly contact with the home, built up largely by voluntary workers, has led to developments in many different directions, and today we are dealing constructively with almost every aspect of child welfare. There are, moreover, indications that the interest aroused in our work through evacuation may lead other authorities to start similar services, adapted, of course, to the needs of their particular areas. For many years to come legislation such as is now before us will require on the one hand, education of the public, and on the other hand, a broad and flexible outlook in those who have to carry out its administration. A continuance of our English tradition of collaboration between official and voluntary workers should do much towards achieving these ends.—Yours truly.
HELEN GUTHRIE, Chairman of the Central Council of Children's Care Committees. Alverstone House, Magee Street, Kennington Park Road, S.E. ii.
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