§ 76. Mr. ALBION RICHARDSONasked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether he is prepared to make arrangements to enable a man summoned to appear before a medical board, and who cannot afford to pay a fee to his panel doctor for a certificate stating his medical history, to obtain such a certificate free of charge?
§ Colonel GIBBSThe furnishing of such a certificate as is referred to in the question would, of course, be entirely outside the scope of a medical practitioner's agreement for services under the National Insurance Acts, and he would, therefore, be under no obligation to furnish it. Moreover, it is a fundamental principle that any information as to the state of health of an insured person which may come into the possession of the doctor by whom he is attended under the provisions of the National Insurance Acts is strictly confidential, and is to be used for national health insurance purposes only. In these circumstances, it does not appear possible that such arrangements as the hon. Member suggests should be made under national health insurance nor be paid for from national health insurance funds.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman make representations to the Government as to the great injustice this causes to poor men, who cannot afford to pay for a medical certificate, in being deprived of their only opportunity of laying their medical history before the medical board, and put in a much worse position than those who can afford to pay for a certificate?
§ Colonel GIBBSPerhaps my hon. Friend will put down a question to the Minister of National Service?
§ Mr. RICHARDSONI will put it to the Prime Minister.