The Horne Health Services
Press summaries of the circular of guidance issued by the Minister of Health to local authorities last week-end have tended to give the impression that by July 5th, 1948, a complete home health service will be in operation. This, of course, is not to be expected. The circular does indeed stress the scope of the service, which includes the care of mothers and young children, midwives' assistance, health visiting, home nursing and the provision of domestic help—all except the domestic help to be free. Lists of doctors with special experience of maternity work.(" general practitioner obstetricians ") are to be drawn up by local professional committees. All midwives are to be trained in the use of analgesia. Health visitors are to concern them- selves not only with mothers and young children, but with the whole family. A home nursing service is to be planned with the aid of the district nursing associations. Arrangements are to be made for the care of the tuberculous. An organiser is to be appointed to aid the recruitment of an " efficient domestic help service." All this indicates both a co-ordination and an extension of services ; but planning will not solve the problem of personnel, which has been hampering the health services for years. The circular points out that there may not be enough dentists to go round, and urges priority for mothers and young children. The care of the tuberculous has been seriously limited recently by lack of nursing staff. Similarly, the domestic help service, advocated during the war, has failed to develop in many areas because there has not been the labour to staff it. The Minister of Health recognises such difficulties when he asks local health authorities to " see that the best use is made of . . . resources " and to submit a development plan to show how gaps can be filled " as resources expand." No revolutionary improve- ments are to be expected by next July, but there will now be a hope of steady progress under planning.
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