“NO WEAKENING BY B.M.A.”

Southland Times, Issue 23856, 29 June 1939, Page 5

“NO WEAKENING BY B.M.A.”

REPLY TO TALK OF POSSIBLE CHANGE IN ATTITUDE WELLINGTON, June 28. The message from New Plymouth last night that the British Medical Association was considering a possible change in attitude towards the maternity benefits under the Social Security scheme was referred to a member of the. national health insurance committee of the British Medical Association. He said that the present position was the same as it had always been, namely, that the medical profession as a whole wished to assist in the maternity scheme provided the scheme did not lead to a deterioration of the standard of service, or interfere with the liberty of the patient in the choice of doctor. There was no weakening on the part of the British Medical Association in its views on those points. PLUNKET SOCIETY MAY RECEIVE BENEFITS (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, June 28. For mothers and babies receiving treatment in the Plunket Society’s Karitane hospitals it is possible that the society will receive the hospital benefit of 6/- a patient a day under the Social Security scheme. Dr R. A. Shore, Assistant Director-General of Health, said today that the society’s position under the scheme was being considered at the moment and it was expected that a decision would be reached soon.

The society’s council, with headquarters at Dunedin, has written to the department asking what arrangement if any is likely to be made. Already a grant is received annually from the Government but there is a prospect that under the Social Security scheme there will be added to this a separate payment for each patient