Page:The New National Health Service Leaflet 1948.pdf/4

 First get a recommendation from your family doctor that your eyes need testing. Then hand that recommendation to any doctor with special qualifications (lists will be available) or to any ophthalmic optician taking part in the new service. If you need glasses, these will be provided without charge. For re-testing you can go direct to any of the doctors with special qualifications, or to an ophthalmic optician.

The National Health Service will provide several kinds of spectacles of different types. For specially expensive types you will have to pay the extra cost.

Specialist ear clinics will be established as resources allow. At them you will get not only an expert opinion upon deafness but also, if necessary, a new hearing aid invented by a special committee of the Medical Research Council. Production of these aids is now going on, but will not meet all demands at once. They will be supplied free, when ready, together with a reasonable allowance of maintenance batteries.

Your local County or County Borough Council will, as soon as it can, make special provision for: (1) advice and care of expectant and nursing mothers and children under five (for particulars ask your doctor, health visitor, or Welfare Centre); (2) midwifery (ask your doctor or Welfare Centre); (3) home nursing where there is illness in the family (ask your doctor); (4) all necessary vaccination or immunisation (through your doctor or Welfare Centre); and (5) a health visitor service to deal with problems of illness in the home, especially tuberculosis.

Special premises known as Health Centres may later be opened in your district. Doctors may be accommodated there instead of in their own surgeries, but you will still have "your own doctor" to give you personal and confidential treatment. He will still come to your home as necessary. At the Health Centre he will be able to use equipment supplied from public funds. These Centres may also offer dentistry and other services on the spot.

(83077) Wt.39168 2/48 Hw.