§ 65. Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked whether medical benefit under the National Insurance Act includes modern methods of exact diagnosis such as pathological and bacteriological investigations?
Mr. MASTER MANPathological or bacteriological investigations of an expert character are not services demanded of a 33 doctor working under the Act, who is only required to give such treatment as is of a kind which can consistently with the best interests of the patient be properly undertaken by a general practitioner of ordinary professional competence and skill; although, of course, such a practitioner would utilise any facilities placed at his disposal (without expense to himself) for obtaining expert assistance.