§ 2. Mr. Collinsasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that many doctors charge 2s. for medical certificates issued to the National Health Service patients; and if he will make a regulation to prohibit this charge.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithGeneral practitioners in the National Health Service are not required to provide free medical certificates other than those required under the National Insurance Acts and certain other enactments which are set out in regulations. My right hon. Friend sees no reason, on the information at present before him, for altering this system.
§ Mr. CollinsIs the hon. Lady aware that the certificates have very often to be paid for after a period of unemployment when people are least able to afford extras? If the per capita charge does not cover the issue of certificates, will she have a word with her right hon. Friend to see whether it can be adjusted so that they can be issued free?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithCertificates which are required in order to obtain benefits under any of the regulations are obtainable free, and if a doctor charged for such 19 a certificate it would be against the regulations; but other types of certificates-school authority certificates and the like—are not covered by the regulations.