Report of the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1740277147

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-132094

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Report of the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Stationery Office

Year of publication:: 1926

Scope:: XII, 394 S.

Digitisation:: 2020

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Minority report

Collection:: Economics Books

3) MINORITY REPORT. 108. So far as vital statistics can reveal to the nation direc- tions for extensions of national services, there is a conclusive case for a complete revision of maternity and child welfare services, with a view to the provision of more adequate ante- natal and maternity services—‘ This . . . . is a matter that has been discussed . . . . with the medical profession in 1919 and since, and I think the general feeling is that if the requisite financial arrangements could be made it would be very desirable to end the present system under which you have the general practitioner responsible for treatment before labour, but having no responsibility during labour; the midwife under an entirely independent authority, giving attendance in labour and calling in a practitioner to attend in labour if necessary, who would be paid by the local authority; then you have the maternity and ante-natal centre giving assistance in the early stages. There is a great deal of overlapping and probably a good deal of waste, and it would be most desirable if it could be arranged to have a scheme that brought the family doctor, the midwife, the specialist if necessary, and all the services that are available at the maternity centre, under a common scheme and a common con- trol, so that they each played their proper part and were brought into proper relation with one another, helping one another instead of acting at a distance as they do now. I do not think there is any doubt as to the desirability of it . . . . Tf the insured people were willing or if it were thought desirable to apply part of the present cash maternity benefit so as to make such a scheme practicable, the medical advantages would be very great . . . ” (Smith Whitaker, 3. 23,896.) The evidence seemed to show that the medical profession “ would welcome an amendment of the Insurance Act whereby attendance at confinement would be brought within the scope of the provision made,” provided that certain conditions were ful- filled, and ‘ desire that the same provision should be extended to non-insured women of similar economic position.” (Appendix CITI, 46.) 109. We recommend that the medical services during pregnancy and at confinements should be co-ordinated with the maternity and child welfare services under the Tiocal Authorities. MATERNITY CASH BENEFIT. 110. We are not satisfied that there is anything like uniformity in the methods adopted by Societies in administering sickness benefit during pregnancy, nor do we feel that the position is materially better in this respect than in the period reviewed by the Sickness Benefit Claims Committee, and later by the Depart- mental Committee on Approved Society Administration. We further consider that this important phase of public health can- not be dealt with solely through the Approved Society system. Tt is significant that the Departmental Committee on Sickness

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