§ 69. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked whether complaints have been made by Gloucester panel doctors that certain approved societies have failed to supply forms for medical certificates and have ignored requests for such forms; whether insured persons' benefits are thereby in danger of disturbance, refusal, or delay; and what the Government propose to do in the matter?
Mr. BENNThe matter referred to had not previously been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend, but he is in communication with the insurance committee and the approved societies concerned.
§ 77. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the allocation of insured persons to a doctor who has not been selected by them has given, and is giving, rise to discontent 1763 and dissatisfaction; whether surprise and dissatisfaction has been caused by the interpretation which has been placed by the National Insurance Commissioners on Form 110-I.C. to the effect that a person who has been allocated to a doctor whom he has not selected is deemed to have selected that doctor; and whether the Commissioners will issue, or cause to be issued, to insured persons a circular instructing them what steps they should take if they wish to change the doctor whom they have not selected but to whom they have been allocated?
Mr. BENNUnder the Regulations none in force no allocation is carried out except upon the application of insured persons themselves. It was open to insured persons who were allocated to doctors last year to change their doctor at the end of the year by giving the necessary notice; and every opportunity was taken of bringing to the knowledge of insured persons their rights in this respect. It is still open to insured persons who omitted to take the necessary steps last year and who now desire to change their doctor to do so by consent, and the Medical Card issued to insured persons already on the lists of doctors contains full instructions on the subject.