HEALTH SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 17

HEALTH SERVICE

DOCTORS' ATTITUDE | "WILL COME TO TERMS" SYDNEY PRACTITIONER'S VIEW The opinion that doctors would capitulate and come to terms with the Government for the operation of the social security scheme was expressed by Dr. Stuart Jones, of Sydney, who ar.rived by the Oronsay from Brisbane yesterday. The purpose of his visit to New Zealand is to study the proposed health service, and. confer with the Prime Minister, Mr. Savago, and other members of the Government associated with the legislation. Dr. Jones said it was significant that the Conservative Government of Australia and the Labour Government of New Zealand almost simultaneously should both sponsor practically identical proposals for the nationalisation of health services. The fact showed the trend of public opinion, and he thought the public would demand that doctors should ultimately fall into lino and accept the terms stated by both Governments.

"The medical practitioners in all British countries are conservative and reluctant to adopt radical changes," said Dr. Jones. " Australian doctors are not so violently opposed to the scheme as is the case in New Zealand. Nevertheless, the Dominion's position is being closely watched by members of the profession, as well as by the Labour Council in New South Wales." I)r. Jones denied that it would be practicable to bring doctors from abroad if the profession to hold out against tho scheme in New Zealand. In general practice, he said, it would not be possible, but it might bo successful in regard to staffing hospitals and other institutions. The possibility of a popular doctor receiving a monopoly of patients would need to be guarded against in Australia, where ono would be allowed to select his own doctor, he added. There was a limit to the number of patients a doctor could attend, the maximum being approximately 1500 annually. Dr. Jones also advocated the inclusion of specialists' services in the scheme, _in order to prevent their ranks becoming overcrowded and causing the system to function inefficiently.