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essential. While home nursing and domestic helps can deal with
many of these cases, for patients requiring continuous care, such
domiciliary attention can only he a costlv and inefficient substitute
for hospital treatment.
Health Centres.
No formal schemes have been submitted, as the Minister of
Health did not request that these were to be prepared by any
certain date. On the contrary, it was made clear that building
difficulties were such that only schemes where special circumstances
could be advanced were likely to receive formal approval.
Long discussions were held on the possibility of Health
Centres on certain new housing estates and these were being considered
at the close of the year now under review.
Finally, what of the future? It may be felt that the loss of
its hospital services seriously diminishes the ability of the Corporation
to improve the health of the residents of the Borough.
It is true that illness and its treatment are of intense personal
interest to most people. For who knows when he or she may be
in need of hospital care? Further, there is the feeling of innate
nobility of purpose to tend the sick and relieve pain and suffering.
Yet the triumphs of curative medicine may be counted in single
numbers and for those who deal with costs, at ever mounting
expense. Prevention is still better than cure, from every point
of view, though, as always, without glamour and proved only by
statistical data.
While the record of no single death from diphtheria is undoubtedly
of greater merit than the possession of the finest
hospital for the treatment of this disease, the drawbacks of such
an achievement are obvious. A numerical observation affords
little opportunity for civic functions, no laying of. foundation
stones or opening ceremonies, and even worse, no tangible
example of corporate enterprise available for inspection. Nevertheless,
when the initial phase of the changeover has passed,
Health Committees and Health Departments will find that they
been have relieved of a burden which since the operation of the
Focal Government Act of 1929, has diverted them from their
position as the pioneers of the practice of preventive medicine. It
will also be remembered that, as the authorities responsible for the
provision of Health Centres, Health Committees will have the
opportunitv to promote the unity of the preventive and curative
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