Major BROWNasked the Minister of Health if insured persons in the village and district of Blanchland, Northumberland, are unable to get the medical attention for which they and their employers-pay under the National Health Insurance Act; that a Mrs. Brown, an insured person, had recently to pay £2 12s. 6d. for doctor's fees, and that generally sickness benefit cannot be, claimed owing to the 1161W cost of getting a doctor to sign the necessary certificate; and if he will take steps to stop this method of making poor people pay heavily for nothing?
§ Sir A. MONDAfter the death of the only doctor resident in Blanchland the Insurance Committees concerned made arrangements with the two nearest practitioners to assume responsibility for the treatment of the insured persons in this sparsely populated area. No complaint has been received from Mrs. Brown, but if the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with further particulars I will have immediate inquiry made.