Two years ago, before there was a National Health Service, a deputation of miners from West Wales came over to the Rhondda Valley to discuss a problem with an old friend.

Deputation: "Well, the fact of the matter is, doctor, we represent two or three thousand men, who are at present without a doctor. We really need a doctor like you. Will you come and take it over?"

Doctor: "I'll come - but we'll need double the contributions."

This is what the doctor proposed to do with the money. Where the men lived, there was no hospital, no clinic, no building that could be converted. A house was found for the doctor, and behind it spare time workers erected an ex-Army hut brought over from the Swansea docks. The manager of the colliery was an enthusiastic supporter.

Inside, the hut was equipped with X-rays and with every kind of physiotherapy appliance. A trained physiotherapist was put in charge. Now, every day of the week, the health centre is full. The doctor's wife, herself a radiographer, has the job of X-raying each miner every six months. The X-rays keep a check on the chests of miners working in dusty conditions.

The whole point of the centre is that miners and their families come at once to the physiotherapist to treat the small troubles which before they would have neglected rather than make the long journey to Neath or Swansea. The manager of the colliery was sceptical about short-wave diathermy, but he's taking treatment. Such centres are not yet part of the National Health scheme, but pioneer work like this may well prove that they must be.

This health centre would not have existed but for the courage of men who subscribed their money and confidence to make something instead of waiting for it.