§ 15. Mr. THURTLEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, at the inquest proceedings recently on the death of a Shoreditch man named Daniel Fitter, the coroner who presided commented on the inadequacy of the home treatment of this panel patient and of panel patients in general; and if he will 1042 inquire into the home treatment given to insured persons?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have seen Press reports of this case. Insurance practitioners are required by their terms of service to visit and treat patients whose condition so requires at any place within the districts in which the practitioners have undertaken to visit patients; and any complaint that a practitioner has failed to visit a patient when necessary should be made in the first instance to the local Insurance Committee, who must have it investigated. I do not think the present case affords sufficient reason for a general inquiry such as the hon. Member suggests.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill the Minister say whether he has received many other such complaints as this?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIf, by "such complaints as this," the hon. Member means complaints of inadequacy of the home treatment of panel patients, I am not prepared to say that I have received many complaints. There are very few complaints.