§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health why, in the event of an insured person, entitled to medical benefit and on the list of an absentee practitioner, being urgently in need of medical attention sending to one of the doctors under the scheme for the protection of medical practices, and, after finding such doctor not available obtaining treatment from a doctor not party to the scheme, the fee paid is deducted wholly or partly from the 413W proportion of the fees receivable by the absentee doctor under the scheme?
§ Mr. ElliotThe hon. Member no doubt has in mind the position under a voluntary scheme for the protection of the practices of absentee practitioners. A voluntary scheme operates only between practitioners who agree to participate therein, and the capitation fee payable in respect of an absentee practitioner's patient who seeks treatment from a non-participating practitioner cannot consequently be shared between the two practitioners, but must be paid in full to the non-participating practitioner.