View report page

scattered. It appears to me that some co¬ordinating Committee
is necessary to bring Hospitals, General Practitioners' Service and
Local Health Authority Services into line.
Old people can be dealt with under a variety of Acts. While
some effort is being made under these Acts to alleviate distress
caused by the difficulties of our time which hit the old people
hardest of all. when it comes to the expenditure of money Authorities
tend to economise, and the result is that the old people do not
receive the necessary consideration which is their due. It is not
true to say that they are entirely neglected, but the efforts needed
in this direction are so great that a more co¬ordinated effort should
be made before the old people will really receive what is their due.
To apply the principles of prevention to the aged, some
machinery must be got into existence which will tend to prevent
old age from developing prematurely.
My mind is centred in this respect on the establishment of
Geriatric Clinics, where the problems which beset advancing years
may be elucidated and dealt with.
Housing is still causing considerable anxiety to a certain
section of the population, and it would appear that the problem
is an ever-increasing one in the face of the present national housing
effort. That the individual should now proceed to build for himself
appears out of the question on account of the great cost, likewise
the cost of extensive repairs make it impossible for the landlord
to save ageing property from becoming unfit for human habitation.
The efforts made in clearance areas and house building by Local
Authorities, although great in themselves, fall far short of what is
needed.
Food production does not appear to be having the impetus
that is required to meet the needs of our population; at the same
rime the health of the population is better now than ever before.
Unless we increase our food production there appears little chance
of abolishing the rationing system, although as I have already
said, the population seems to be well nourished, yet one constantly
hears from many people that they feel so tired.
6