60. Mr. F. HALLasked if doctors on the insurance panels are permitted to employ assistants for the treatment of insured persons; if such assistants require to be approved by the insurance committees; and if the remuneration of the assistants is fixed by the committees or under regulations of the Insurance Commissioners?
§ Mr. MASTERMANA practitioner on the panel may depute an assistant to act on his behalf when he is precluded by urgency of other professional duties, absence from home, or other reasonable cause from giving personal attendance to an insured person under his care. It is the duty of the insurance committee to take any necessary steps to secure that the service provided by any assistants is satisfactory, but, subject to this, the remuneration of such assistants is a matter for their principals and themselves to determine.
Mr. F. HALLConsidering that assistant doctors are allowed to practice, will he consider the advisability of allowing chemists who have practised for thirty years—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice of that question.