View report page

of the edge of the bath above the floor which is adjacent to the bath,
and, quite frankly, I think it should not be more than 18 inches or
so. There must be suitable hand rails so that old people can get in
and out easily and safely, and there is something to be said for the
baths in which people sit down rather than the baths in which people
lie down.
"The question of what form of cooking should be provided
I think, is open to very much discussion; upon the one hand, gas
can be quite dangerous; on the other hand, a large number of people
are not acquainted with the use of electricity. I recognise that the
problem is vexed, and there is plenty of room for different opinions,
but on the whole I think that electric cooking is in all the circumstances
the better of the two.
"Old people have always sought medical help more than other
age groups, and if we want to give them the widest choice of doctors
we must make arrangements for the doctor to come and see them.
To this end I am wondering whether it would not be wise to arrange
for a doctor's surgery in a part of the building which is communal,
or at least a room which could be used as such. It could be a
dual-purpose room, as I am only thinking of the simplest form of
surgery. I should say that a hand-basin would be all that is
obligatory, and the room could also be used by welfare officers and
other people who came, and I hope they will come to see old people
rather than ask the old people to traipse about to find them.
Incidentally, I can mention a hope of mine that whilst old people will
be allowed the widest choice of their private doctor it will ultimately
come about that for all practical purposes there will be a medical
officer for this group of buildings, because only in this way could the
work be done efficiently and economically within the present framework
of the National Health Service Act.
"Providing we get old people to retain a minimum of furniture
the rooms should be so small as may be; the possibility of one room
leading out of another, if this leads to shortening distances between
A and B and back again, should be entertained. Incidentally, by
having rooms leading out of one another we might be able to help
solve the problem of background heating."
In my foregoing letter, I have mentioned the desirability of providing
suitable employment for people who have reached retirement age. I
Page 10