§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health (1) how the arrangement concluded between him and the British Medical Association for the treatment of air-raid 42W casualties at 16s. per annum is in any way binding upon general medical practitioners, and by what authority any voluntary association seeks to bind persons who are not members of such association, and who do not recognise it or any of the arrangements it purports to make;
(2) whether those members of the medical profession who dissent from the inadequate remuneration of 16s. per annum for treatment of certain air-raid casualties are compelled to work under any such scheme or is the scheme optional?
§ Mr. ElliotThe arrangement does not purport to be binding on any individual practitioner, but it has been devised in the interests of all concerned and I have no reason to believe that it will not be generally adopted. The scheme provides for complete freedom in the choice of doctor and it is therefore open to the patient, when presenting the order for treatment, to select a doctor who is prepared to give his services under the scheme.