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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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter V. The development of the health services

Collection:: Economics Books

Fe MAJORITY REPORT. —— maternity benefit of the Insurance Scheme as ‘‘ a great oppor- tunity missed.”” ‘‘ The real purpose which Parliament had in view was undoubtedly to make childbirth safer alike to mother and child. This purpose cannot be fulfilled merely by a grant of money *’ (App. XXIII, 3; Q. 10,140-10,146). He considered that though the benefit is a real help and is properly utilised in many cases, its cash character and limited scope condemn it and its administration by Approved Societies as unsatisfactory (App. XXIII, 4-9). He held the view that the whole administra- tion of the maternity benefit should be transferred to the Public Health Authority and incorporated with the work of the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres (App. XXIII, 10-12; Q. 10,061-10,066, 10,091). 108. The Incorporated Midwives’ Institute (App. LXXIV), while considering that ** maternity benefit is a useful institution and should be maintained,” are of opinion that *‘ it should not only mean a cash benefit but also, when needed, a treatment benefit directed specially to the condition of pregnancy, that sick pay for four weeks after confinement should be given, and that the benefit should include ante-natal treatment.”” The Scottish Midwives Association (App. LXXV) support these views and add that *° an additional maternity nursing benefit *’ should be made available under certain conditions. On the fundamental question of the transfer of maternity benefit to the Local Health Authority we were told that these bodies had not considered the matter (Q. 19,781), but in answer to Q. 19,790 a bias towards some form of unification appeared. 109. Evidence from Approved Societies and their representa- tive bodies was generally to the effect that the fees of doctor or midwife tended to absorb the whole benefit and leave nothing over for comforts, extra nourishment and other requirements arising at the time of confinement and that these fees had been increased substantially as the larger benefits (increased for cost of living and by additional benefits) had become available (see e.g., Hearts of Oak Benefit Society, Q. 3490-3491, 3529 ; Indepen- dent Order of Rechabites, App. VIII, 6, Q. 6110-6111; Scottish Co-operative Friendly Society, App. LXXVIII, 2, Q. 20,326- 20,327; National Federation of Rural Approved Societies, App. XXIX, 14). Other witnesses advocated a proposal that the fees for doctor or midwife should be made a statutory charge on the general medical fund so as to prevent this absorption of the whole benefit (see Association of Approved Societies, App. XLV, 11-12; Scottish Co-operative Friendly Society, App. LXXVIII, 2, Q. 20,328-20,330). The Standing Committee of Scottish Insured Women recommend that definite provision should be made for the payment of sickness benefit during the four weeks prior to confinement (App. XLVI, 6). 110. The National Association of Trade Union Approved Societies recommend that medical benefit should include treat-

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