I) 
Tn 
MAJORITY REPORT. 
74. When we contrast the attitude assumed in 1912 by the 
medical profession and by considerable bodies of public opinion 
towards the medical service proposed under the Insurance Act 
with the body of testimony which we have now received, we can 
say confidently that adverse forecasts have been falsified and 
that medical benefit hag proved in practice a successful and most 
valued factor in the advancement of the health of the nation. 
75. Before passing from this general discussion of medical 
benefit as it is at present provided under the Insurance Scheme, 
we may mention that in Chapter X we make important proposals 
for an immediate expansion of the scope of the benefit so as to 
cover expert out-patient services. Much of what we have said 
here, and especially our review of the relative evidence, should 
be borne in mind in considering the proposals in question. We 
have preferred to survey the evidence at this point in connexion 
with our general examination of the Health Services, though if 
is, of course, equally relevant to the specific proposals which we 
later put forward for immediate adoption. Tt is obviously 
unnecessary to traverse the same ground twice. The same point 
should be kept in mind in connexion with those other problems 
of a medical character, i.e., dental benefit, maternity services 
and medical benefit for dependants, which are discussed in this 
Chapter in general terms and in Chapter XII in their more 
immediately practical aspects. 
SECTION B.—THE ADDITIONAL TREATMENT 
BENEFITS. 
76. From medical benefit we pass naturally to the various 
ancillary services which are or may be provided under the addi- 
tional benefit schemes of the Insurance Act. Under additional 
benefit schemes (putting aside for our present purpose increases 
in the rates of cash benefit) provision may be made for in-patient 
treatment in hospitals (which includes nursing homes) dental 
treatment, ophthalmic treatment, convalescent home treatment, 
nursing and the supply of medical and surgical appliances other 
than those provided as part of medical benefit, 
THE GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS. 
77. Before we proceed to the details of these benefits it may be 
well to describe briefly the general arrangements under which 
they are provided. It is important in the first place to observe 
that at the present time there are two groups of additional 
benefit schemes in operation. One group is consequential upon 
the first valuation of all societies and branches made as at the 
end of the year 1918. The second group follows on the valua- 
tion of some societies and branches made as at the end of the 
year 1922. The schemes of the former group expire in July,