DOCTORS AND LODGES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 301, 22 December 1941, Page 6

DOCTORS AND LODGES

AN AGREEMENT IN THE WELLINGTON DISTRICT FREE SERVICE TO MEMBERS AT SURGERIES SMALL ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR VISITS TO HOMES I Press Assn.) Wellington. Dec. 21. An agreement, satisfactory to both parties, regarding the services of doctors to lodge members, reached between the Wellington Division of th" British Medical Association and the Wellington Friendly Societies, was announced to-night by Mr. J. L. Stewart. secretary of Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows of New Zealand. A special convenience was that members would have doctors’ services free, but for a small additional charge week-day visits to patients’ homes The lodge concerned would pay the doctor and secure its refund from the Social Security Department. Members would have a wider choice of doctors than ever before, and the latter would receive prompt and certain payment without unnecessary formalities. His society called a meeting of local representatives of Manchester Unity, to which other societies were asked. The Dominion Council of Friendly Societies. Wellington District Foresters. Druids. Hibernians, and the Independent 1.0. F. were represented. The Wellington division of the B.M.A. had already appointed a committee to negotiate. The following arrangement was made with the mutual approval of the doctors and the societies’.— Fees for attendance at surgery. 7s 6d. Visit for attendance elsewhere than a surgery. IDs 6d. Visit at night, or Sunday attendance. 12s 6d a visit. This was the same scale as laid down in the regulations under the Social Security Amendment Act. except that the ordinary day-time visits to patients' homes carried an additional charge of 3s. Such sum would be paid by each member at the time of the visit.