TO CARRY ON

Grey River Argus, 18 March 1941, Page 7

TO CARRY ON

Runanga Medical Society ■ DISCUSSIONS WITH DOCTOR. The Runanga Medical Society,- at a general meeting 01/ Sunday, decided to continue its activities, at the same time seeking arrangements with the Government for the payment of the doctor's salary and drugs. The question of reduced fees is also to be considered. Mr. F. Oakley, Who presided, gave a resume of the conference with the Minister of Health (Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer). The Minister had been told that the Society levied its members 2s -.’d per fortnight, and paid the doctor a salary of £712 per annum (of which £162 was Government subsidy). Free house, coal and light were provided the doctor. The Hospital Board were' paid 5s per annum per member for out-patients service, and monetary benefits to members were £1 a' week when off work sick, for 20 weeks. In addition, when consultations with outside doctors were necessary the Society paid half the cost. The Minister commended the benefits provided by the Society. The Minister could give the conference no undertaking about the payment of the doctors’ salaries, nor could he agree to provide a nurse for the Society, suggesting, that this was a matter for the Societv to bring before the Hospital Board. He agreed to purchase the stock of drugs the Society had on hand at cost, but would' not agree to the payment of the ambulance. The Blackball. Society was in the fortunate position of having a doctor who had joined in the medical scheme.

The chairman said that the committee had met the Society's .doctor, Dr. E. H. Densem, who ITad informed them that he would be loyal to the 8.M.A., and would not sign up under the Government scheme. He gave his reasons for hfe attitude. He was willing, however, to continue as at present, and was not concerned it the salary was refunded to the Society by the Government. The doctor agreed that if he joined the scheme, he would more than double his salary, but said that the salary was not everything. Since the Minister’s return to Wellington, a circular letter to medical societies had been received, and this indicated the Government's willingness to make special arrangements for medical societies, by paying the salary of the doctor employed by the Society, and the payment of the drugs. Under this offer, it was expected that the Government would pay to the Society the doctor’s monthly salary from March 1, and the drug accounts from April 1. In reply to a question, the chairman said that the Society had in the past fortnight been rgeistered as a Friendly Society, and that in future, the sickness benefit of £1 weekly would not bo deducted from any amount a member was entitled to receive from the Social Security fund. The chairman said that under these proposals, it would be possible substantially to reduce the fees, probably to about 6d per week. With the coming into operation of the out-patients scheme, the Society had been relieved of its payment of 5s per member per year to the Hospital Board. Mr. Morris said that the doctor’s salary was £712, plus free house, light, coal, car allowance, etc., and he considered that the Government was bound to refund the expenditure on these items also. The chairman said that two and ahalf years ago the fortnightly dues were 3s 9d, later reduced to 2s 9d, and they now stood at. 2s 3d, and he did not think it would be, a hardship if they were made Is in future. This would be sufficient to pay the monetary benefits, and also meet other out-goings until the whole matter could be finalised. In any case, it could be varied as required. He explained that from April 1 onward, the only items still to be met by the patient was for teeth extractions and ambulance fees. The Society might decide to pay the ambulance fees. Mr T. Walker moved that the doctor be given three months’ notice, and that in the interim the Committee endeavour to have matters straightened out, and the doctor re-engaged on terms to be arranged. The chairman said he thought Mr Walker was being unfair. He wanted to give the doctor notice, and at the end’ of three months they stood the risk of being without a doctor. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder.

•Mr F. Baxendale moved that the Society carry on, make arrangements with the Government for the payment of the salary and drugs, and go into the question of fees. The motion was carried unanL mously. The chairman said the doctor was a gentleman, and was quite prepared to.carry on. He had at all times met the Committee in the most co-opera-tive spirit, but had made it plain, however, that if the members wanted it that way, then he was quite prepared to give them three months’ notice, but he would regret to see them without a doctor at the end of the period.