MATERNITY HELP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 154, 3 July 1939, Page 9

MATERNITY HELP.

CHRISTCHURCH STATEMENT. ■• r; mjii'Al i>i:i'AHTi'ni:s." The report referred to, cnianating from Chii-lrlimvii. ,-t.ili'H tli.it inn radical clrpart iin*4 l'r the previous attitude uf Miit New Zealand brunch of the British Medical .Woeiatiou toward the maternity benefit-> claii«c-i in the Social Security Act are propo-n-d in a circular issued by the council of the n-woointion to all its members. The circular, which has; been forwarded to nil brunt-lien and \\i\ei been considered by most of them, recommends, among other thingn, that fees be paid straight to the practitioner out of tho Social Security Fund, and that iimendmeut* l>e made to tin' Act bringing all doctors within its scope for maternity services. Tho report continue*: "Replies from all the division* will be considered at ii meeting of the National Health Ineiirnnee> Committee of tile association in Wellington on Wednesday. Jt in understood that most of the replies received fo far have recommended the adoption of the revised proposals an<l their fiti'bmieeion to the Government for approval. "The amended scheme submitted by the New Zealand Council for discussion hy branches suggests fixed medical fees for normal oases, and eome common abnormalities, but eugge&te some variation according to the type of vice rendered, and also makes provision for consultants and anaesthetists.

"The second clause, which is probnhly the most important proposal, recommends that the fee* payable from the fund bo pnid direct to the practitioner. From this it would appear that the association has abandoned its demand for a cash payment to the patient. "Tt is recommended that usual fees and special fees be defined by agreement between the association and the Department, subject to arbitration if necessary, and to readjustment at certain interval* to avoid the permanent fixing of fees. If specialists are engaged, a further fee may be charged nnd recovered from the patient direct, above, the amount to be recovered from the fund.

"The final clause of the circular is probably the most radical as it snggod'q tlint the Act be n mended to give effect to the proposals. The effect of this clause is to remove from any practitioner attending maternity cases the right to come in or stay out, nnd make it obligatory for him to come in."