§ 62. Mr. GOSSLINGasked the minister of Health whether the recent change in the medical benefit Regulations by which insured persons must give longer notice of their wish to transfer from one insurance doctor to another was made with the approval of the British Medical Association?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Miss Lawrence)The appropriate steps were taken to bring this proposal to the notice of the British Medical Association as soon as my right hon. Friend had formed the opinion that any further protection of insurance funds which could be secured by this means ought to be secured without avoidable delay. The whole subject was fully discussed at the annual conference of Local Medical and Panel Committees in October, and a resolution was passed requesting my right hon. Friend to defer the consideration of the matter for a year. My right hon. Friend is sensible of the importance which attaches to the principle of free choice of insurance doctors by insured persons, but complete freedom of choice was not accorded by the Regulation which has now been amended. The matter is therefore one of degree, and he decided that it was his duty to take action without the interposition of any prolonged period of delay such as had been suggested to him on behalf of the Association.