§ 66. Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many panel doctors charge insured persons fees for small dental services such as an ordinary general practitioner is accustomed to render to his patients; and whether, as a decision has recently been given by a committee of referees appointed by him under the medical benefit regulations to the effect that such services are within the range of the medical services which an insured 1916 person is entitled to receive from his doctor, he will take steps to see that the practice of charging insured persons for dental services is discontinued by panel doctors, and that fees already paid to them by insured persons for such services are returned?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe decision of Referees to which the hon. and gallant Member refers was given on the facts of a particular case, and cannot be regarded as a decision that dental treatment is necessarily or always part of an insurance practitioner's obligations. I am not aware that insurance practitioners generally charge fees to patients for dental services, though isolated eases of the sort may occur. Any complaint of this kind should be referred to the Local Insurance Committee, who have power to require the refund of any fees irregularly charged.