184 THE B R I T I S H HOMfEOPATI~IIC JOURNAL

NATIONAL H E A L T H SEI%VICE BILL.

OFFICIAL REPORT ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY O~ HEALTH OF THE DEPUTATION SPONSORED BY THE BRITISH HOM(EOPATHIC ASSOCIATION RECEIVED BY THE RIGHT HON. MR. ANEURIN BEVAN, M.P., MINISTER OF HEALTH, ON JUNE 27TH,

1946.

1. The Minister, accompanied by Dr. Charles and Mr. Hawton, to-day received a deputation from the British Homceopathic Association. The deputation handed him a written statement and, in support of it, they emphasized that many people in all parts of the country wished to-have homoeopathie treatment, which should, therefore, be provided them under the Health Service Bill.

2. They said that in order to ensure that this widespread demand from the public is adequately met through the National Health Service, they wished certain Homceopathic Hospitals to be designated Teaching Hospitals under the Bill so that Doctors specializing in Homceopathy may be so trained.

3. They also desired to make sure that the homceopathic doctor wishing to begin practice in an area would not be debarred on the grounds that there was a sufficiency of non-homceopathic doctors in that area.

4. The Minister, in reply, said be hoped that the hom~eopathic hospitals, in general, would come into the National Health Service Scheme, and he would t ry and preserve their special character and atmosphere, like that of other special types of hospital, by making suitable appointments to the Management Committees, etc. He thought, however, that the Regional Hospital Boards would have to look at the services in any given area before a conclusion could be arrived at about any particular hospital.

5. He could not give any assurance as regard designating homceopathie hospitals as teaching hospitals ; it was not his function to. determine what kind of training was to be given in teaching hospitals, and the University Authorities must come into this question.

6. There would be no discrimination against homceopathic methods of practice; equally, of course, there would be no discrimination in favour of them, or of any ether particular clinical methods.

7. In conclusion, the Minister thought tha t many of these problems might not prove so formidable in practice as they ,night seem in theory, and he would gladly ask the Association to meet him again at a later stage when the preparations were being made to bring the Act into operation. The deputation thanked the Minister for seeing them, and withdrew.

MINISTRY OF ~EALTH 27th June, 1946.

MEMBERS OF THE DEPUTATION.

Kenneth B. S. Greig, Esq., C.B.E., President Glasgow Homceopathic Hospital, representing Council of British Homceopathie Association.

Alva Benjamin; Esq., M.B., Ch.M., Honorary Consulting Physician for Diseases of the Skin, The London Homceopathic Hospital and Leaf Homceo- pathic Hospital, Eastbourne ; Medical-Representative of British Homceopathic Association.

J. G. Bowman, Esq., Employee Member of S.C.W.S., representing Em- ployee~ Contributors Fund to Hospitals and Dispensaries.

Dudley W. Everitt, Esq., M.P.S., Director Messrs. A. Nelson & Co. Ltd., Homceopathic Chemists, representing Homceopathic Pharmacy.

L. J, Knowles, Esq., F.C.C.S., Secretary The London Homceopathic Hospital, representing Homoeopathie Hospitals.

Sir John Weir, G.C.V.O., M.B., Ch.B., Physician to H.M. The King, Physician in ordinary to H.M. Queen Mary; Past President Faculty of

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE BILL 185

Homceopathy ; Consulting Physician to The London Homceopathic Hospital, The Homceopathic Hospital, Bristol, the Midland Hospital, Birmingham, The Leaf Homoeopathie Hospital, Eastbourne and the Wood Green and New Southgate Hospital.

W. Lees Templeton, Esq., M.D., Ch.B., Vice-President Faculty of Homceopathy ; Physician for Diseases of the Nervous System, The London Homceopathic Hospital.

An unofficial deputation consisting of Sir John Weir, Dr. Frank Bodman, and Dr. Templeton was received recently at the Ministry of Health by Sir Wilson Jameson, Principal Medical Officer (who was accompanied by M r . Hawton). The conversation was confidential but it may be said that the deputation received a sympathetic hearing and an assurance that the difficulties of the Homceopathic Hospitals and practitioners would be seriously considered at a later date when the Regulations were actually framed.

The Post-Graduate Teaching Courses at the London Homceopathic Hospital, Great Ormond Street, W.C.1, will be opened with a Lecture by Dr. W. Ritchie MeCrae to be given on Thursday, October 10th, 1946. All medical practitioners and all friends of the hospital are invited to be present.

The Course is intended to cover the subjects required for the examination for the diploma of the Faculty of Homceopathy. Subject to the number of entries the next examination for this diploma will be held in December, 1946. For particulars of the Syllabus and conditions of examination intending examinees should apply to the Secretary of the Faculty at the Hospital.