HEALTH SCHEME IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23945, 12 May 1943, Page 3

HEALTH SCHEME IN BRITAIN

DOCTORS AS STATE SERVANTS REPORTED REJECTION OF PROPOSAL (Rec, 9 p.m.) LONDON, May 11. The British Ministry of Health made a confidential suggestion to influential doctors throughout the country that doctors after the war should become State employees on a fixed salary scale. The doctors considered the suggestion in secret and rejected it. Reporting this, the “Daily Express’’ says: “The doctors want a Royal Commission to examine publicly the whole question of public medicine. They feel that the present secrecy in the discussions between the profession and the Ministry is undesirable. “The Ministry suggested a system of health centres controlled by local authorities, in which people would choose their own doctors from those available. It suggested a salary scale of £4OO for a centre assistant who had finished his training, £650 after three years, and an increase of a few pounds annually thereafter. Doctors say the scheme is insufficiently comprehensive and would make them the servants of local authorities rather than the friends and physicians of their patients. They also argue that the salaries would regard grey hairs rather than ability. “The doctors want the Beveridge" Report endorsed before they are singled j out for control. They are prepared to see the end of private practices and huge fees for star surgeons, but they want a system of groups of doctors under the control of their own profession. and not under the control of local authorities.” British Destroyer Lost. —The Ad- . miralty h;s announced the loss of the • i British destroyer. H.M.S. Pakcnham, I .which had taken part in operations off I the Italian and African coasts. —Lon- H |don, May 10. . i . n MMBinißiwili i 9 \>Ti IT