§ Mr. Priceasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider an alteration of the regulation which insists that a person in receipt of a supplementary old age pension shall only have a medical practitioner appointed by the Public Assistance Committee of the county; and whether, in future, a free choice of doctor can be permitted.
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§ Mr. WillinkMost supplementary pensioners are entitled to medical benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts with a free choice of doctor, and only a small proportion obtain medical treatment through the arrangements made by Public Assistance Authorities. These arrangements may with my sanction include a choice of doctor, and sanction for arrangements of this kind has already been given to about 30 authorities.