MEDICAL BENEFITS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 160, 8 June 1939, Page 8

MEDICAL BENEFITS

OPERATE BY JULY I. MINISTER’S HOPE. For Press Association. NISW PLYMOUTH, June 7. It is the hope of the .Minister of Health (Hon. P. Fraser, that hospital benefits under the Social Security Act will operate froir. July 1. according to advice received at New Plymouth. Several points have yet to he decided by the Minister before the drat ting of the regulations, it is understood, hut it- is expected that they will be ready late in June. Reactions of the visiting medical staffs toward tho scheme have been reviewed by most of the hospital hoards concerned. Generally the position is that visiting staffs will carry on when the hospital benefit is introduced, pending satisfactory arrangements being made about a uniform basis of remuneration. The executive of the Hospital Boards’ Association is to discuss the matter with the British Afedical Association toward the end of this month or in July. Pending the outcome of that conference. it is stated, negotiat'ons with the honorary stall at the AYellimrton Hospital are in abeyance. 'I he Dunedin Hospital is in a similar position. \t Auckland the visiting staff, which has the question of remuneration under consideration,. is said to be prepared to carry on as at present, but it is not willing tn name a figure for remuneration* till the whole question of medical service under ihc Act is settled with the Government.