FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 111, 6 November 1941, Page 8

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

MEDICAL SERVICES

MANCHESTER UNITY VIEW

"We have n,ot the same interest in the old general practitioner service that we had, and although.we want to do our best by the doctors by preserving their existing patients for them, we have our minds more or less fixed on a specialist service which would cover all the medical services not already covered by the Social Security Act," said' Mr. J. L. Stewart, secretary of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, today.

The introduction of a specialist service would depend on the different localities, because the circumstances were not the same everywhere, Mr. Stewart continued. In' some places there was only one doctor, and a specialist service would not have the same significance as in a large town or city, where it would be of very, great importance to lodge members.

He indicated that the suggestion by the council of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association that friendly societies be notified that the 8.M.A., on the expiry of the present contract, is prepared to operate a system on the "lines of the Auckland Transport Club No. 2 scheme, did not appeal to the Manchester Unity. The scheme referred to was not generally known to friendly societies before it was mentioned by the doctors, said Mr. Stewart. The scheme simply meant that the lodge would hi.ye to guarantee the doctors the difference between the 7s 6d fixed by the Social Security Amendment Act and the doctors' minimum fee of 10s 6d. The friendly societies were not consulted by the doctors when they came' to the decision to operate that scheme. "Upon examining the scheme," .said Mr. Stewart, "it is not found to be such as would have any appeal to our members. We are not by any means devoid of ideas on the subject .of a medical service which would be attractive to our members, and the medical profession. We have always been ready to explore the question with the medical profession, and we should still be pleased to do so. In many parts of NeAv Zealand satisfactory arrangements have already been made by these means. 'What we would like to see is the right of our members to retain the medical advisers they have at present, and some of whom ha^ve been attending to them for 20 years or more. The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows is pleased to know that in many localities our medical officers have agreed to serve our members on a mutually satisfactory basis." ■ i