DOCTORS DISSECT HEALTH BILL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21978, 23 March 1946, Page 5

DOCTORS DISSECT HEALTH BILL

OPPOSITION TO SALARIED SERVICE

FEARS FOR RIGHTS OF PATIENTS

(11.30 a.m.) ■' ■ LONDON, March 22. Dr. TI. Guy Dain, chairman of the British Medical Association Council, addressing a press conference, declared: “The doctors are afraid that the officials’ idea of a good doctor will he one who gives the least trouble—a man who always plays safe, who always passed the buck, and who should not be allowed to fight for his patient’s rights in any claim against the State.”

The Press Association says that Dr. Dain was giving the considered judgment of the 8.M.A.. reached after placing the Government's health proposals oh the operating table and dissecting them. Dr. Dain reiterated that the medical profession was anxious and willing to co-opcrate in evolving a complete health service, but was opposed, on the grounds of public interest, to certain important features of the new proposals. The family doctor proposals meant a whole-time salaried service under the control of the State sooner or later. The patient would suffer from this control much or more than the doctor. Inevitably, there would be an urge on the State’s part to cut short all sickness, both to save funds and get men back to work. This urge must be translated into pressure on the doctors. There would be both a motive for pressure and a means of exercising it. A doctor being paid largely by salary would progress in his profession only by official approval. British Medical Association leaders are starting an immediate campaign against the national health plan. Meetings will be held at the week-end throughout Britain to prepare for the first. Parliamentary debate, which will probably be within a fortnight.

Copies of the White Paper issued by the Minister of Health. Mr. Aneurin Bevan, have been sent to all Britain's 56.000 doctors, accompanied by forms asking how much each doctor will contribute to the fighting fund. The B.M.A. leaders have given an assurance that, whatever happens, there will be no doctors’ strike. The Ministry of Health slated that the bill did not affect the General Medical Council’s disciplinary powers. A practitioner who was struck off the roll was automatically ineligible for the State service. Government supporters are extremely enthusiastic about the National Health Service Bill, says the Press Association's Parliamentary correspondent. The Conservatives, on the other hand, are increasingly critical and will put down dozens of amendments. The main objections include, first, the plan will not operate until 1948: secondly, members dislike ,the taking over of endowments; thirdly, control by regional boards is too remote; fourthly, it is doubtful whether health centres will be popular with the people; fifthly, the stopping of selling of practices is a mistake; sixthly, the State is paying £66,000,000 compensation for nothing: seventhly, leading Labour members in the past have opposed the .taking over of hospitals.