FEES AS USUAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20602, 1 November 1941, Page 4

FEES AS USUAL

DOCTORS’ POLICY NO STATE CONTRACTS RECEIPTS FOR PATIENTS A majority of Gisborne doctors have agreed to follow the policy laid down by the Dominion council of the British Medical Association in regard to operating the' Government’s medical practitioner service. The normal fees will be charged to patients, who will be supplied with the necessary documents to enable them to secure their refunds from the Treasury. The practitioners will not enter into the scheme to the extent of claiming fees direct from the State. This attitude was outlined to-day by a leading member of the Gisborne branch of the British Medical Association. It was stated that the only contract in existence was that between the_Government and the individual needing treatment. The removal by legislation of the civil right of medical practitioners to sue for fees was still an outstanding difficulty. The doctors could not be expected to co-operate fully with the Government in regard to the general practitioner scheme, it was further remarked, while this matter of civil rights continued to stand between them. The loss of these rights was strongly resisted by the profession as a whole. The standard of fees charged would be the same as in the past, it was learned, though doctors doubtless would exercise some discretion in the application of the standard, as they had done in the past. One point on which all doctors still hold strong views refers to the application of the medical practitioner service as a permanent institution. It is claimed that it should have been made applicable only for the duration of the war, and Jhat in fairness to members' of the prof, sion now serving their country with the armed forces, provision should have been, made for a review of the scheme wlien the hostilities abroad ceased.