7. Colonel NEWMANasked the Minister of Pensions whether medical men when visiting patients of the Pensions Department, whether in hydropathic or other institutions, receive as their fee the sum of 10s. 6d. per head per visit; whether in many cases such visits are almost formal, and that a medical man could visit 10 such patients in half an hour and receive a fee of five guineas; and, if so, whether he is prepared to effect such economy in public expenditure in this direction?
§ Major TRYONWhen whole-time medical officers of the Ministry are not available, local practitioners are employed to examine and make detailed 3110 reports on pensioners accommodated in institutions not under Ministry control. These medical men receive a fee of 21s. for one case and 31s. 6d. for two or more cases. No higher fee than 31s. 6d. is paid for a visit to any one institution irrespective of the number of pensioners examined and reported on.
§ Major TRYONNo. It only means that no one visit is paid more than 31s. 6d., however many cases are inspected. We are in agreement with the hon. Member on the question of economy. Sometimes people are better examined by a local doctor than if we had to send one of our own officials a long distance.