ATTITUDE OF DOCTORS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 1, 1 July 1939, Page 11

ATTITUDE OF DOCTORS

CHRISTCHURCH REPORT

' Christchurph doctors decided on :■ Thursday night to support a proposal from the North Island that the Gov- ■ ernment's offer for, maternity cases should be accepted under certain conditions, states the "Press." It has been indicated to doctors that the Minister of Health (the Hon. P. Fraser) hag taken a firm stand in his demand.,that they fall in with his proposals. His hint that he may bring in doctors from abroad has been followed with a' report that he has plans ready; for taking over nospitals. and giving the public a full, free hospital service.;- ■ ■'''/■'■■' ■;..•:" '..■•;•' -:'. • ■'.' '•■*.',. .'■ The pyoppsals agreed to by the Canterbury -• Division of the British M.edical Association on Thursday night are reported toinvolve!the acceptance (under ceri^^conditi'ori's>''':6|;''£s in full settlement fdr a doctor's services in each normaj case in which there is no complication/ and for which a specialist's services are not required. The doctors propose to accept this provided that in the light of this concession on their part they ,niay negotiate for some further concession from: the Minister's side. ( Originally the doctors insisted on payment of the £5 from the/State ty> the patient, leaving, the doctor' to col-, lect his fees as/at present from the patient. The Minister refused this, insisting that the doctor should enter a contract; with 'the State and the payment be made to him tinder that con-' tract. ■'.-'. .''■'-■■ .. :. ■■'■■'■ ■'.' The doctors, according to Thursday night's decision, will seek either no contract or a more flexible contract, ; providing, fop less "restriction," as it has been termed, on the relations now existing between"-doctor and patient. The matter "is being thrashed . out among doctors in every centre, and will be further discussed at headquarters in Wellington next Wednesday.