Sir J. D. REESasked the Minister of Health whether the new record cards have been dropped in view of the almost universal objection entertained to this development of social reform?
§ Dr. ADDISONNo, Sir. I am unaware of any grounds for the statement in the hon. Member's question that there is almost universal objection to the insurance medical record cards. From about 10,000 approved societies and branches I have five protests only; out of 150 panel committees (representing insurance practitioners), five representations, mainly on points of detail; while from the insurance committees (which administer medical benefit in every county562W and county borough) I have received no protest whatever. On the contrary, one large insurance committee, which had before it a resolution disapproving of the new medical cards, rejected the resolution by 21 votes to two. In these circumstances, I fear that the hon. Member has been gravely misinformed.
§ Sir D. HALLasked the Minister of Health what is the estimated cost per annum of the new medical records for insurance patients; and whether it approximates to the statement made by the local medical and panel committee of the county palatine of Chester that, according to its information, the cost of the initial issue would run the London Hospital a year?
§ Dr. ADDISONOn the first part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to the question on the subject on the 10th November, 1920, of which I am sending him a copy. The annual cost of the records will be a small sum, and certainly considerably less than that of the old medical record cards and doctors' register cards, both of which will be replaced by the single new permanent record card. With regard to the last statement in the hon. Member's question, the cost of running the London Hospital in 1919 was £221,000, whilst the total initial cost to Insurance Committees, a charge which will not recur, for filling in and sending the record cards to all the practitioners in England and Wales was estimated to cost £19,000.
§ Sir D. HALLasked the Minister of Health whether already, under the new system of medical records of insured patients, there have been cases of patients forgoing their benefits and incurring the expense of a private doctor rather than submit to a record of their complaints being made by the panel doctor on the record cards?
§ Dr. ADDISONI understand that allegations to the effect stated in the question have been made in some two or three cases only, out of the millions of insured persons. I may add that the fact that medical men, Approved Societies and Insurance Committees, as well as insured persons, having first-hand knowledge of these matters, have remained quite unmoved by the recent agitation is convincing proof of its unreal character.