X-RAY WORK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 188, 11 August 1941, Page 2

X-RAY WORK

RADIOLOGISTS' MOVE

RECOGNITION BEING SOUGHT

Radiologists throughout New Zea-j land are seeking recognition under. the Government's Diagnostic Ser- j vices Regulations, the intention being that the change should take effect as from to-day. The suggestion is that the Government should be responsible for full settlement of radiological services given in hospitals, and for part settlement of radiological services provided by private practitioners. A free X-ray service, except for dental and life insurance purposes, was announced by the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer. on July 24, and the regulations were gazetted the same day. It was then stated that X-ray services of the schedule. . . various types detailed by the Minister would be available on the written recommendation of a medical practitioner, other than the one performing the service, at the hands of doctors engaged by a hospital board, or of radiologists who were recognised for this purpose by the Minister. Such recognition would be either absolute, entitling the radiologist to perform the survice at the cost of the Social Security Fund, or it could be limited to certain specified services, according to the qualifications of the plant available to the radiologist. The fees to be allowed for the different classes of work were set out in the

There are about IS full-time radiologists practising in the Dominion, most of them being occupied for the whole of their time in hospital service. Dr. F. J. F.wynne, of Auckland, president of the New Zealand section of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Radiologists, said the radiologists' decision was due to their wish to see that private and hospital radiological services were available as usual to the public. Since all but a few of the radiologists were in hospital service, the introduction of the regulations meant that it was hardly likely there could be any other suggestion but that the radiologists should carry out the scheme. Dr. G wynne also explained that radiologists* public hospital service had been increased by the routine examinations that were made of men for all the fighting services.