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6th November, 1946
Sir,
The National Health Service Bill has been reported in its various stages but for some reason it has scarcely been discussed in your columns; nevertheless it is bound to be far-reaching in its effects. Perhaps, now that it is practically law a letter might be allowed suggesting that a total state medical service can have severe ill-effects.
For instance, one result is that medical practice is now to be subservient not to science but to politics. Whatever gains come from the new scheme these must essentially be out-weighed by the loss of what has been won by the great scientist doctors of our history, and maintained by generations of practitioners in face of continuous public demand for faith-healing and magic.
Already a Minister of Health (without scientific training) has been the one to decide not to include osteopathy and faith-healing in the state medical service. From the doctor's point of view this is exactly as bad as if he had decided the other way. That such decisions should rest with whomever the parliamentary majority happens to give charge of housing, health and a few other odd items, is a depressing thought.
It seems to me to have been the duty and privilege of a paper with the standing of the Times to have put this issue clearly before the public: a body of people, untrained in scientific method but elected because of the complexion of their political views, had finally destroyed a good thing out of ignorance.
I am etc.,
D. W. Winnicott