MAJORITY REPORT. 9 The British Medical Association have submitted in Appendix XI/VII a full statement of their policy with regard to hospitals. Their attitude, so far as finance is concerned, may be gathered from the following quotation :— . ““ The Association recognises a dual policy as regards the voluntary hospitals ; (a) that the purely charitable side should be continued wherein the whole cost of the maintenance of indigent patients is met by the gratuitous contributions received by the hospital, and on whose behalf the services of the honorary medical staffs are given gratuitously; (b) that other patients who are not indigent may be received for treatment at voluntary hospitals when they cannot pay for, or cannot obtain, adequate treatment elsewhere, and that, for them, payment should be received by the hospital either from the patients themselves or, on their behalf, from the authority or body referring them to the hospital, and that, on account of their treatment, some method of remuneration of the honorary medical staff should be arranged.” (App. XL VII, Sub-App. D, paragraph E, 3.) The implication is that, in respect of insured persons, payment, including an amount for the remuneration of the honorary medical staff, should be made by the societies to the hospitals On the question of the relationship of the out-patient depart- ment to the general practitioner the Association enunciate the general principle that the primary object of the out-patient department should be for consultation, and that only such treat- ment should be given therein as cannot consistently with the best interests of the patients be properly undertaken by a general practitioner of ordinary professional competence and skill. (App. XL\VII, Sub-App. D, paragraph 25.) 96. The National Association of Trade Union Approved Societies have submitted in paragraphs 138-139 of App. XCIIL, their policy in regard to hospitals. They contemplate a complete system of treatment centres, local or cottage hospitals, county hospitals and national hospitals under public control and sup- ported by public funds, but ** would give voluntary hospitals the option of being taken over by the Health Authorities entirely or of receiving grants from public funds conditional on efficiency.” “ The Local Health Authority should be represented on the Boards of Management, and though remaining on an entirely voluntary basis, such hospitals should work in co-operation with the public hospital.” Provision oF NURSES. 97. The amount available in 1924 for this additional benefit was in England about £152,000, of which, however, only 4 per cent., or about £6,000, was spent in the year. Difficulties of administration have been encountered, we are told, owing to the