DOCTOR'S SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24136, 1 December 1941, Page 8

DOCTOR'S SERVICE

i INVERCARGILL APPEAL BOARD GRANTS ADJOURNMENT [BV TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] INVERCARGILL, Saturday The hearing of the appeal against military service on behalf of Dr. A. E. McMillan, of Invercargill, was completed before the No. 6 Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday and was adjourned sine die. In giving the decision of the board, the chairman, Mr. J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., said that Dr. McMillan was the onlj- local medical practitioner giving service under that part of the general medical service scheme by which payment was on a per capita basis per annum. "A very large number of people desire to avail themselves of tuis type of medical service, as is recorded by the evidence of the objectors," said Mr. Bartholomew. "The appeals on the ground of public interest have been substantiated, and an order is accordingly made for an adjournment sine die." When the hearing was continued from the previous day, Mr. G. J. Heed, representing the appellants, read the following telegram scut on Thursdav to the Minister of Health: "Are those people who signed up under the original capitation scheme wherebv a doctor undertakes to attend professionals to a man or his wife and family at the rate of 15s a year eligible under the new agreement made between the doctors and Government?" Mr. Reed read the following reply: "Persons on the list of a doctor operating under the capitation scheme are not eligible for benefits under the recent general medical services scheme, except in cases of emergency. They may give due notice to the capitation doctor, at the expiration of which they are eligible for the benefits of the new scheme. I understand other doctors in Invercargill are still charging their normal fee of 12s 6d, leaving the patient to find os a consultation above the amount allowed under the fee for service scheme."