§ 43. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Minister of Health the number of contributors under the National Health Insurance Acts who refuse or omit to nominate or select a doctor from the panel, and approximately the total amount of their contributions; and what is done with their contributions?
§ Mr. E. BROWNNo precise figures are available of the number of persons in England and Wales entitled to medical benefit on the 1st January, 1932, who had not at that date selected an insurance doctor by whom they wished to be attended, or made alternative arrangements for obtaining treatment; but the approximate number may be estimated at 500,000, approximately 3 per cent. My right hon. Friend is not in possession of any figures of the amount of contributions paid in respect of such persons. He would remind my hon. and learned Friend that there are about 16,000 insurance doctors in England and Wales, who remain collectively liable to treat all or any such persons; and it is for this reason that the total amount of the capitation fees payable to insurance doctors covers that liability.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not a fact that the money of those people who refuse to nominate a doctor is divided up among the doctors in accordance with the number of panel patients who do select a doctor; and, as they are getting money from people whom they never attend, and who refuse to be attended by them, is not that simply legalising the obtaining of money by false pretences?