TOO MANY DOCTORS

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 272, 22 November 1935, Page 7

TOO MANY DOCTORS

COMPETITION KEEN IN GREAT BRITAIN LONDON, September 27. Doctors arc becoming seriously perturbed ati the increase iji itheiir numbers. Never before has the profession, bie'en so crowded. Last year registered practitioners in Great Britain totalled 57,496, twenty-one thousand moire than in 1900. To some extent this increase is justified by the increase in specialisation which has absorbed a large number of mien and women who, in earlier days,

would have remained general practitioners. The health insurance scheme, too. by enabling more people to obtain medical treatment, has called for more doctors.

But even allowing for these factors, the profession is growing overcrowded. One result has been a decline in incomes. While the “big noises” in medicine- —amd more particularly of surgery—can still obtain good fees, many of the smaller (practitioners can barely make both ends meet. A recent inquiry showed that the earnings of a Targe proportion were surprisingly ’ low.

'This situation, combined with the steady growth of all manner of public medical assistance, from baby clinics to gymnastic centres, is creating a demand in certain quarters for a State medical service. Such a service, while supported by some of the younger and less wealthy doctors, on the ground that it would give them a secure income, is opposed by the more influential members of the profession.

Their opposition is not primarily selfish. They see in the proposal a further advance of bureaucracy, and they regard thefir opposition as >ai fight for a long-cherished professional, freedom. It is certain that a State medical .service will not be established without a bitter struggle.

Some of the latest London flats are being fitted with private telephone bjneS connected with a number of big West End shops. The object, of course, is to persuade the tenants to order their goods from the shops by telephone.

The telephones are free to tenants, the istores paying The installation and maintenance costs. They find it a cheap way of securing new and regular customers.

On a number of new housing estates too. every mew householder finds a telephone fitted and the first year’s rental paid. This is very welcome to the post office. For few people who have once exp’eriencedbthe benfits of the tellephone—particularly in a district where everybody else is on it — will! wish to abandon thorn.