§ 21. Mr. BRIDGEMANasked what processes of diagnosis of blood, sputa, etc., will be included in the list of those for which payment is to be covered by the allowance for drugs?
§ Mr. MASTERMANSuch methods of diagnosis as are presumably referred to in the question will, so far as employed, come under the heading of medical treatment and not of drugs. It is not possible to state in advance what particular methods will be employed by different practitioners, but, as already stated, practitioners on the panel will not be required 1735 themselves to undertake work demanding skill and experience beyond that which the ordinary general practitioner can properly be expected to possess.
§ 23. Sir PHILIP MAGNUSasked by what arrangement an insured person, temporarily resident in another county than that in which he ordinarily resides or in another part of the same county, and taken suddenly ill, would be able to secure medical benefit under the National Insurance Act; and whether a qualified medical practitioner not on any panel would be recognised as able to give a certificate?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe arrangements referred to in the first paragraph of the question will be found in the Provisional Regulations relating to medical benefit, especially paragraphs 44 and 45. I am not clear as to what certificates the hon. Member is referring to in the second paragraph of his question.
§ Sir P. MAGNUSIs that in the Regulations?
§ Mr. MASTERMANRegulations, paragraphs 44 and 45. They are laid before the House at present.
§ 24. Sir PHILIP MAGNUSasked whether a medical practitioner, accepting service under the National Insurance Act, is permitted to have a qualified assistant who is not a partner, and to employ such an assistant in visiting some of the cases of illness that may arise within the thirty mile area over which his contract practice, under Section 3 of Part I. of conditions of service for practitioners, is required to extend?
§ Mr. MASTERMANYes, Sir, in the circumstances, but only in the circumstances, described in paragraph 6 of Part I. of the First Schedule to the Regulations recently issued relating to the administration of medical benefit under the Act.