NO "RUSH"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 260, 3 November 1941, Page 8

NO "RUSH"

PATIENTS AS USUAL

AUCKLAND DOCTORS BUSY

The coming into operation on Saturday of the general practitioner service under the Social Security Act has not made any appreciable difference to the doctors in Auckland so far, according to opinions expressed by members of the profession to-day.

"Business has been going on as usual," said a medical practitioner in one of the poorer suburbs this morning. "The week-end did not bring me any more than the usual number of patients," he continued. "The same can be said for this morning. It will take some time for the people to become conversant with the new conditions.

"I have been amazed that some of my patients know so little of what the Government has done. When I informed callers on Saturday and again to-day tha: they could obtain a refund of 7/6 of the fee I had charged them they expressed the utmost surprise. Naturally they were pleased. I think it will take some considerable time before the public, speaking generally, will realise what the new legislation means to them. It is evident that they have not been 'awaiting the day,' else I would have had my consulting rooms packed out during the week-end and this morning." »

Other medical men consulted expressed views on similar lines. They all said that it. was far too early to express any opinion as to the effect the system would have on their practices. Most of them were of the view that consultations would go on much as in the past and that the patients would be glad to obtain a refund of 7/6 a visit when the necessary documents were attested.

An announcement by medical practitioners notifies the public that anyone requiring medical attention may consult his usual doctor. payment of the fee he will be advfsed how to collect the rebate due to him under the Social Security Act. Prescription Chemists Prescription chemists to-day said that it was evident that there had been no "rush" of the public to the doctors during th» week-end. They also were cf the opinion that it would be some time before they would know whether the general practitioner service that had been established would mean much increase in prescription business. One chemist said he did not think the people yet knew what they were entitled to. "The free medicine scheme has been in operation since May 5 and scores of people who come to have prescriptions made up have no idea that they can obtain these free of cost. Customers express surprise every day when they are told there is nothing to pay. If after six months' operation the public do not realise that they can obtain prescriptions free, there is no reason to think that they will be any quicker in ascertaining their rights under the general practi'ioner scheme."