1944 UNITED KINGDOM: HEALTH/ POLITICS: Government plan new health service: Health Minister Henry

Date: 6th March 1944

Location: LONDON, ENGLAND

Source: Reuters Historical News Collection: BRITISH PARAMOUNT NEWSREEL (REUTERS)

ENGLAND: London:

INT

Henry Willink MP (Health Minister) seated at desk.

Henry Willink MP (Health Minister) speaking to camera SOT

- I've been asked to tell you just a little about the new plan for better health. Our plan is a service which will provide the best medical advice and treatment to everyone - every man, woman and child in this country. Whatever your income, if you want to use this service, nobody is going to try and make you unless you want to, there will be no charge for treatment. The National Health service with include family doctors who you can choose for yourselves and who will attend you in your own homes when this is necessary. It will cover any medicines you may need. Specialists' advice and, of course, hospital treatment whatever the illness, special care for mothers and children and a lot of other things besides. In fact, every kind of advice and treatment you may need. (SV) This has not got to be only a full service but also a really human and personal service. We are out to improve the health of every family and the whole nation. If we cut out the money worries which illness brings then there would be no reason to put off getting advice and treatment. We could build up good health instead of just trying to mend bad health. (SCU) Now all the details have been set out in a white paper and in a shorter pamphlet and you'll find there, the arrangements the Government propose for the doctors, hospitals, the local authorities and so on. (FCU) It's not a cut and dried scheme, these proposals are for discussion in Parliament, and we want them talked about by everyone concerned and you everyone in this audience are very much concerned.

Personalities - Politicians; Medicine and Health; Post-War; Sir Henry Urmston Willink, 1st Baronet (b. 1894); NHS; National Health Service

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