VOLUNTARY HOSPITALS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—My attention has been called to the article in your issue of October 25th, and the reference therein to the munificent gift of Mr. Insull to the London Temperance Hospital. As from the article and subsequent correspondence there appears to be some misconception of the facts, I would like to explain that this generous gift was made not only by Mr. Samuel Insull, of Chicago, but also his children and brothers and sisters, some of whom are resident in this country, in memory of their father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Insull, Senior, who, years ago, were associated with the work of this particular hospital, and as keen temperance reformers, attached to the principles on which it was founded. Both Mr. and Mrs. Insull, Senior, were resident in this country, and, so far as I am aware, never were in America.
As to the suggestions of your correspondents, I trust the time when our magnificent voluntary system is exchanged for a State aided and controlled hospital service may be long deferred. I see no reason, however, why Government grants should not be given to our hospitals, as suggested in your article, without necessarily interfering with the voluntary service by which, for so many years, our great hospitals have been built and maintained. Personally, I would much prefer this to becoming involved in the orgy of gambling which I see one of our great London hospitals is considering, and which, In my judgment, is likely to do more to discourage the charit- able public on whom we rely for support than to afford substantial benefit from such a questionable source.
Another source of financial help which so far does not seem to have been explored is the possibility of extending the paying wards of our hospitals. There is no doubt that many people would much prefer to pay a reasonable sum for accommodation in one of our- London hospitals than be mulcted in the extra. vagant charges of an- expensive and often inefficient nursing home. There is no reason why a very considerable contribu- tion to the upkeep of our hospitals could not be obtained by this means. The problem is a difficult and anxious one, but there is no reason for despair- or for want of confidence in the great voluntary system which has been built up through many centuries by public-spirited and devoted c itizens.—
Chairman of Appeal Committee. London Temperance Hospital, Hampstead Road, N.W. 1.
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