DOCTORS’ FEES INCREASED

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28397, 2 October 1957, Page 7

DOCTORS’ FEES INCREASED

Higher Scale In Taranaki

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 1.

Increased charges for medical service to patients in Taranaki, which are authorised as from today by the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association are already being widely charged in Wellington and in many parts of New Zealand, said the chairman of the council of the B.M.A. (Dr. W. J. Hutchison) today. The higher charges—l2s 6d for a general consultation at the surgery, 15s for visits to the home and £1 for visits at week-ends, Sundays, statutory holidays and at night—have been general tor several months in different parts of New Zealand, said Dr. Hutchison.

“There has been no rise in doctors’ fees for half a century.” said Dr. Hutchison, "and it is felt that the present modest increase is justified to offset higher costs all round, including rents, maintenance and wages. I think our association must be the last organised body in thd country to increase charges. I would think every section of the community has had increased fees or wages except us.” Dr. Hutchison said if doctors throughout New Zealand felt they should increase their scale of fees accordingly, this would carry the authorisation of the association. The Director-General of Health (Dr. J. Cairney) said today that the increased charges made by doctors would not affect the payout made by the Health Department to doctors through Social Security. These payments made by the department to doctors were laid down in the appropriate regulations and varied, generally speaking, from 7s 6d in the case of a normal visit, to 12s Bd for a week-end or holiday visit. Thus, if doctors charged higher fees, the patient would meet the extra cost not the Social Security Fund.