CHARGES OF DOCTORS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20825, 2 July 1942, Page 2

CHARGES OF DOCTORS

ADDITIONAL FEE I - ’ RESTRICTIONS URGED (P.R.) WELLINGTON, this day. Urging that medical practitioners should be compelled to charge the fee of only 7s 6d a visit provided under the social security scheme, Mr. F. L. Frost (Lab., New Plymouth), - when discussing the social security benefits vote in the House of F:epresentatives, said that many doctors were insisting on the 10s 6d fee. They would not submit to the patient the ordinary social security form but sent 'a full ' account, and the bill had to be paid before the form was signed by the medical practitioner. It was scandalous for this sort of thing to go on. Doctors .were taking advantage of the public, it was wrong when so many of their colleagues were accepting the scheme. In the case of old-age pensioners and people of small means hardship was caused, because in many instances they did not have the cash to meet the account. He thought that in such cases the doctors should be sportsmen enough to enter the scheme. “It is time compulsion was used/’ said Mr. Frost, “as it has been used in many other directions. Men had to join the armed forces while adequate provision was made for doctors’ payments. This sort of humbug-must, be ended.” ■ The matter which had been raised, said the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, was one he knew was causing a great deal of heartburning in some areas. It was only fair to the doctors to say, however, that some doctors not only were accepting the 7s 8d fee .in full settlement, but were also claiming direct on the social security fund for it; Almost half the amount paid out was in respect of direct claims, and he was. hopeful that the number would increase considerably.