§ 31 and 32. Mr. CAUTLEYasked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether in the parishes of Woodhouse Eaves and 789 Woodhouse, in Leicestershire, the Leicestershire Health Insurance Committee, after inviting the former medical officer for these parishes and another local doctor to go on to the panel, have imported a doctor from outside, one Dr. Cullen; that about 200 insured persons in these parishes have had their cards signed by the former medical officer and desire to be attended by him, whom they know and in whom they have confidence; that, notwithstanding this doctor is ready and willing to attend them, they have been informed by the insurance committee they must go to Dr. Cullen for medical treatment under the National Insurance Act; that if they go to the former medical officer they must do so at their own expense; and that the money provided under the National Insurance Act for medical treatment will be paid to Dr. Cullen, whether he attends them or not; whether he will take steps to ensure to these 200 insured persons the free choice of doctor which was promised to them; and (2) whether he will state the terms upon which the Leicestershire Health Insurance Committee have imported a doctor from outside to attend persons insured under the National Insurance Act in the parishes of Woodhouse Eaves and Woodhouse; whether there are any, and what, limitations as to the practice he may undertake, and if it is possible for him to canvass and attend any insured persons and other persons in the county of Leicestershire, and to set up surgeries in any part of the county; and if at the same time the money payable under the National Insurance Act for the medical treatment of the insured persons residing in these two parishes has been assured to him by the insurance committee, whether he attends these persons or not?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAs the Leicestershire Insurance Committee were unable to secure an adequate medical service in the parishes referred to they were authorised by the Commissioners, under the proviso to Section 15 (2) of the National Insurance Act, to dispense with the penal system and to make a special arrangement whereby Dr. Cullen undertook to attend and treat all the insured persons in those parishes on condition that he was given the exclusive right of practising amongst the insured persons in that area for a period of three years from 15th January last. Dr. Cullen has the right possessed by every other duly qualified medical practitioner of being included on a panel 790 where the panel system exists. I am informed by the committee that the other doctor referred to in the question did not sign the medical tickets (with the exception of fifteen) until after the panel system in Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves had been dispensed with.
§ Mr. MASTERMANOh, no, I do not think so. So far as I understand the absolute inability to provide any medical benefit was the reason why the Leicestershire Insurance Committee took the action they did.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSDoes the right hon. Gentleman say that there was no doctor in that district willing to go on the panel?
§ Mr. MASTERMANSo I understand.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIs the result then, that the insured persons in that district have no choice whatever?
§ Mr. MASTERMANYes, certainly. The action taken by the committee was the alternative to over 200 persons having no medical attendance at all.
§ Mr. CAUTLEYIs it not the fact that the doctors mentioned in the question were both on the panel and are both ready and willing to doctor insured persons?
§ Mr. MASTERMANSo far as I understand there was no other doctor available for these 250 insured persons. The only way a doctor could be got was to offer the whole of the practice in the district.
§ Sir J. D. REESWisbech again!