LOCAL CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23121, 20 August 1938, Page 18

LOCAL CONTROL

THB-EE bodies planned QUESTION OF COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE SUGGESTED r BY TKLKCRAIMI —SPKIUAL ItKPOUTEItI WELLINGTON, Frirtuy Proposals for the local administration of the national health section of the social security scheme, as outlined by the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Kraser, are as follows: — (1) District Medical Committee. — This eomifiittee would, it is agreed, correspond somewhat with a medical or panel committeee statutorily recognised under the British scheme, though it would not have executive functions. Its functions hero would bo limited to: (a) General advisory and consultative functions in relation to the medical (practitioner) services of the district. (b) The investigation of complaints as between one doctor and another or as regards the quality of the professional service, (c) The investigation of matters involving disciplinary action in the case of a practitioner, (d) The investigation of cases of excessive prescribing by practitioners as may bo referred to it.

Election by Doctors Tho District Medical Committee would in pursuance of its investigatory functions be empowered to require evidence and if necessary to make recommendations through the prescribed channels to the Minister. It would be representative of tho practitioners of tho district working under the Act and elected by them. The number of members, it is contemplated, would bo one for every 10 or part of 10 practitioners in the district working under tho Act, but not less than three or more than nine members. Hearing of Complaints (2) District Medical Services Subcommittee. — Under the British scheme a sub-committee of this name is required by regulation to be appointed by the Insurance Committee in each local administrative area (county or county borough) to deal mainly with complaints by insured persons against doctors affecting failure to render treatment or other breach by the practitioner of his terms of service or by a doctor against a patient in respect of his conduct. Tho constitution of the sub-commit-tee provides for equal representation of insured persons and doctors (not less than throe each or more than live each). There is also under tho British scheme in each administrative area, a somewhat similarly-constituted body, called tho Allocation Sub-committee, whose duties are mainly tho assignment of persons to practitioner's list in cases where they have been unable to secure acceptance or in the prolonged absence or decease of a practitioner, etc.

it is thought that in the New Zealand scheme such functions could bo undertaken by the Medical Services Sub-committee above suggested, provided it had an independent chairman appointed by the Minister. The proposal is therefore that there be a Medical Services Sub-committee consisting of equal numbers (8) of medical practitioners appointed by the District Medic-al Committee and members appointed by and from the members of the District Health Committee, who represent the insured persons under the Act, in addition to an independent chairman to be appointed by the Minister. Detailed Procedure The functions of this sub-committoe would include: — (i.) The investigation of complaints by insured persons in regard to medical practitioners and vico versa, to establish the facts of such complaints as far as possible and to report through tho medical officer of health to the District Health Committee. Provided that any complaint as to tho quality of professional attention and treatment given in a particular case shall bo referred to tho District Medical Committee for investigation and report. (ii.) Tho assignment to insurance practitioners' lists of persons unable to secure their own selection, etc., and related duties in connection with doctors lists. Representation of Public (3) District Health Committee. —This is the suggested title of the principal district committee in each area representative of the public and of bodies and persons peculiarly interested in the administration of the scheme. Except that it would not probably be entrusted with executive functions, it corresponds with an insurance committee under the British scheme. Its functions here, it is agreed, would include: — (i.) Assistance in such manner as may bo prescribed in the local administration of the medical, "pharmaceutical and hospital benefits. (ii.) .Receipt of reports on investigation into complaints arising from tho provision of the aforesaid benefits.

(iii.) Assistance in taking such steps as may bo necessary to acquaint persons with tho proccduro for obtaining benefits. (iv.) Assistance in general health propaganda. Tho suggested personnel of tho District Health Committee, which would be appointed by tho Minister, is as follows: (i.) Tho medical officer of health or his deputy (chairman). (ii.) One nominee of tho hospital boards of tho district. (iii.) One nominee of tho pharmacists of the district working under the Act. (iv.) Ono representative for every 50 or part of 50 (but not more than three) medical practitioners of the district. Representatives to bo nominated by tho medical practitioners of the district working under tho Act. (Note: It is agreed that medical nominees need not necessarily bo insurance practitioners.) (v.) Ono representative for every -'IO,OOO persons in tho district, but not moro than nine, one of whom is to bo tho representative of tho friendly socitics of the district and ono a woman.

TAX ON CHILDREN THOSE WHO HAVE TO WORK CRITICISM IN PARLIAMENT \ ny TKLTiGItAI'H—SI'ECIAIi RKPOUTEIt'I WELLINGTON, Friday Government members had' talked a lot about tho benefits under tho measure, but they had refused to discuss tho taxation that tho bill would imposo, said Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent—Egmont) during tho Social Security Bill debate in tho House of Representatives. Mere schoolchildren who had to go to work would be paying Is in tho pound, whilo their contemporaries were still at college, ho said. That was an absolutely wrong thing and it was also wrong that a man of (50 who was capable of earning his living should become a burden on the State. The Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash: There is nothing in tho bill to stop him from working. Mr. Wilkinson: No, but you are discouraging him from continuing to work.