§ Sir HILDRED CARLILEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of his statement that the provisions for consultations and operations under the National Insurance Bill will be a matter for special arrangement, who are the parties to this special arrangement; and whether payments will be made under this head to the hospitals?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe parties to the arrangement would ordinarily be the local insurance committee, the medical profession, and the patient. The answer to the last part of the question will depend upon the arrangements which are made.
§ Sir H. CARLILEAm I to understand that the hospitals will not be consulted in the matter?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI said the medical profession. Of course, the medical profession represents the hospitals.
§ Sir H. CARLILENo.
§ Sir H. CARLILEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he proposes to give effect to his intention that members of the medical profession who have shown themselves unfit for the performance of what would become a very responsible public duty must be prevented from securing work under the National Insurance Bill, and in what way doctors remaining on the Medical Register can be regarded as so unfitting themselves?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe Insurance Commissioners will have power after due inquiry, in the exercise of their discretion, to remove from the panel the name of any doctor whose continuance thereon would be prejudicial to the efficiency of the medical service. The hon. Member can hardly expect me to enumerate the various possible causes that might lead the Commissioners to this conclusion, but I may point out that the Commissioners have power to delegate their duties of inquiry to referees appointed for the purpose, and such referees might be constituted as a court of medical inquiry.
§ Sir H. CARLILEAre we to understand that the doctors still upon the Medical Register would be dealt with in this way and removed from the panels?
Mr. McKINNON WOODA case might conceivably arise. I do not think it is very likely to arise, but in any case the medical committee would be able to express an opinion which would, no doubt, have great weight with the Insurance Commissioners.
§ Sir H. CARLILEThere is no medical committee.
§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONHave the doctors any right of appeal?