THREAT TO MEDICAL SPECIALISTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22817, 11 December 1948, Page 3

THREAT TO MEDICAL SPECIALISTS

SYDNEY, Dec. 10 In addressing Parliament on the National Health Services Bill the Prime

Minister. Mr. J. B. Chifley, had insulted specialists of the British Medical Association. said Dr. J. G. Hunter, sccre- I tarv of the association.

Mr. Chifley said he wished to pay a great tribute to the ordinary doctors in the country towns, districts and cities who often gave their services free to the poor, lie added that this attitude was not characteristic of the , highly-paid specialists, though ho > agreed that many of them gave their I services free to hospitals and institu- | tions. “Mr. Chiflev’s remarks are a gratuitous insult to specialists,” said Mr. Hun- j ter. "There is scarcely a specialist in Australia who does not render some : honorary service in hospitals or in- i stitutions. Collectively, specialists give : millions of hours yearly free to people . in that way alone. ,i

Mr. Chifley told the Government that if the association continued its present attitude the Government, like the Governments in other countries, would have to train its own doctors and, il necessary send them abroad for hospital aid specialist training. It is a pity that the Prime Minister has seen, fit to threaten the medical profession.”