DOCTORS AND THE GOVERNMENT

Southland Times, Issue 23791, 13 April 1939, Page 7

DOCTORS AND THE GOVERNMENT

To The Editor Sir,—Mr Gilfedder in his letter adds nothing constructive and makes no suggestions towards helping the people to obtain the medical service now due to them. All he does is to set up questions that did not appear in my letter and then, for his own satisfaction, to fire stones at them. My previous letter was entirely constructive, and as mentioned, did not advance a permanent solution to the problem, but proposed a temporary measure until the doctors come to an agreement with the Government. Mr Gilfedder states that a medical book system would be unworkable. Well, we have at present a levy book and it seems to do the job required of it very well. The medical book would be for record only and would in no way interfere with the doctors. All cases are not urgent, and a country patient would be in no worse position than at present The British Medical Association gave me no assurance that the scheme I proposed was acceptable to it. However, when I discussed my letter with one of the oldest doctors in the profession in Invercargill he told me that the scheme was a good one and that the 2/6 payable by the public was the best measure in it. There is no question about Mr Fraser’s earnest desire to arrive at a solution of the problem. Although he has two years’ start over me, he and I appear now to be climbing the same hill.— Yours, etc., M. RODERIQUE. April 12, 1939.