“GREATLY EXAGGERATED”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26777, 21 May 1948, Page 5

“GREATLY EXAGGERATED”

STATEMENT ON DOMINION SERVICE P.A. WELLINGTON, May 20. “ It is surprising that Lord Beveridge repeats statements that are misleading, and it is difficult to understand why in his survey of social security medicine in New Zealand he omitted to place himself in touch with the B.M.A. during his visit,” said an official of the New Zealand branch of the B.M.A. commenting on the statement of Lord Beveridge in Canberra on the medical services in New Zealand. “ It is true that during the war, with 30 per cent, of our members on military duties, overworked doctors, in order to attempt to give adequate medical attention to the public, in some cases made abnormal incomes,” continued the official. “With the return of normal conditions, however, there has been a levelling-cut process, and ‘fantastically high’ incomes are not now being made. The other abuses spoken of by Lord Beveridge are greatly exaggerated, and the remedy rests with the public who, under the present service, have freedom of choice of a doctor, and who are not tied by capitation to one doctor whose work is ‘shoddy.’ “The present medical service is one that the B.M.A. and the Government realise must be overhauled and improved upon. It was suggested that a joint committee of representatives of the B.M.A. and representatives of the Health Department should investigate the whole service. This committe is now completing its report, and it is anticipated that machinery will be created to correct the abuses of a small minority and to improve the whole service."