MATERNITY BENEFITS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20819, 1 June 1939, Page 11

MATERNITY BENEFITS

DUTIES OF PATIENTS OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS The Health Department has prepared instructions to those who desire, to avail themselves of the maternity benefits under the social security legislation. Under the heading “Duties of Patients” specific times are set forth when, except in the case of emergency, a doctor may be summoned to the patient’s home. The patient is informed that she is not to make any unreasonable demands upon a doctor's services. In particular, with the exception of a case of emergency, she is instructed that she is not to summon the doctor to visit her between 6 p.m. on any day and 8 a.m. the following day.

Nor is she, again with the same pro--vision for an emergency, to ask him to visit her on any Saturday afternoon, nor on any Sunday or public holiday. Where a patient requiring medical advice or treatment is prevented by her condition of health from attending the doctor, she has the further duty of notifying him as soon as possible, and not later, where the circumstances of the case permit, than 10 ajn. of the day she requires to he visit-

Must Not Impose

Except when her health prevents it, the patient is required to attend the doctor at such a time and place as the doctor has undertaken to be in attendance. This means, it was stated today, that patients were not to impose upon the doctor, but that the whole basis of the arrangements between them should be as reasonable as possible.

Eligibility to receive the benefits is to be proved by the production of the patient's certificate of registration under the Social Security Act. Thereafter, the necessary forms designed to satisfy the department that the stipulated medical attention has been given and received are confine! to simple details of the actual period concerned. It was stated to-day thaL no previous or personal and family details are required for the maternity benefits. The instructions also sLate that, if any woman wilfully and unreasonably iaiis to comply with any of the obligations imposed on her by the list of duties, there may, at the suit of Uie medical officer oi health, be recovered from her or irom any person liable for her debts, an amount not exceeding the amount paid out of the Social Security Fund in respect of any maternity benefits provided for her.

OPTICIANS CONFER

LECTURES IN HAMILTON FIXTURES NEXT WEEK-END In the optical profession as in others new ideas and technique are being continually evolved, particularly by research workers in England and elsewhere, and with a view to keeping ! abreast of these new developments in refraction work the Hamilton opti- j cians have agreed to devote the King's Birthday week-end to a study of more j recent advances in their work. The lecturer and demonstrator for ! the series of Mr F. O. Davis, of Wei- : lington. In conjunction with Mr > Geo. E. Cox, of Wellington, Mr Davis j delivered the main series of lectures ! at the annual conference of the New ! Zealand Institute of Opticians in Wei- i lington last February. That the j opticians realised the value of these lectures was borne out by the record number attending the clinic. Mr ; Davis has had wide experience in the latest methods of refraction in England and is well-known among the optical profession for his research work in orthoptics. The optical profession in 'Hamilton are keen to keep the standard o-f re- j fraction work in their district as high as possible, and feel privileged to have Mr Davis making this special trip to Hamilton and delivering these .ectures. All the members of the Waikato Optical .Association are attending the sessions and some of the Auckland opticians have signified their intention of being present at the clinic.