X-RAY SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24828, 30 January 1942, Page 6

X-RAY SERVICES

SOCIAL SFXURITY BENEFIT EXTENSION ANNOUNCED (PA) WELLINGTON, Jan. 29. The Minister of Health, Mr A. H. Nordmeyer, explained to-night that amendments to the Social Security (X----ray Diagnostic Services) Regulations, which were gazetted to-night, provide for a further extension of the X-ray services by making available the services of radiologists possessing their own plant. Up to the present time the service has been confined to public hospitals. The extension, the Minister said, would include radiologists possessing a small plant who did a limited amount of radiological work, and who would be entitled to claim the same amount as the hospital boards. It also included specialist radiologists, who would be approved for all classes of work, and who would receive- a higher sum from the Social Security Fund, though this would not be in full settlement of the patient'is account. Generally, the patient would be entitled to receive from the fund about half the specialist radiologist's fee.

Mr Nordmeyer said it was hoped that this extension would relieve the very great pressure on the X-ray work in the hospitals.