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MAJORITY REPORT, 
122 
CHAPTER X. 
PROPOSALS FOR EXTENDING MEDICAL BENEFIT. 
260. In Chapter V of our Report we have described in general 
terms the changes in the medical aspects of National Health 
Insurance which we regard as ultimately desirable; and on 
the other hand we have indicated in Chapter VI the reasons 
Which in our opinion make wide and costly amendment undesir- 
able and indeed impracticable in the near future. In this and 
the following chapters we propose to deal with various 
Matters which we consider are of immediate practical importance, 
the attainment of which is, moreover, within the financial bounds 
Which we have regarded as prescribed for us by the general cir- 
cumstances of the time. It would in our opinion be regrettable 
if, for reasons of financial stringency, we could propose nothing 
beyond a series of minor amendments. But in fact we are able 
—without suggesting any increase in the contribution or the 
Exchequer grants—to propose several fundamental changes which 
We think will be beneficial to the insured population at large, 
and in addition a considerable number of amendments, not 
Individually of great importance, but in their cumulative effect 
conducive to a real improvement in the general working of the 
scheme. Questions relating to Approved Societies have already 
been considered in Chapters VIII and IX. With certain larger 
Matters apart from these we deal in this and the next two 
chapters. A large number of other questions of varying degrees 
of importance, the consideration of which has been forced on us 
by the evidence or by our general review of the Scheme, are dealt 
With in Chapter XIIT. 
261. The first of the questions to which we now turn is that 
of the extension of the scope of medical benefit. In Chapter V 
We have indicated the nature of the evidence directed to this 
Question, evidence which leaves in our mind no doubt that this 
extension should come first in any order of priority of proposals 
and that such an expansion should be made if or as soon as 
the Decessary financial resources are available. It is unnecessary 
to traverse the ground again, but we may refer to two answers 
of Mr. Brock’s which sum up the official attitude: ‘‘ It has 
always been recognised that medical benefit could not continue 
Indefinitely to be limited only to a general practitioner service.” 
(Brock, Q. 23,830.) “ In 1914 provision was made in the Budget 
and the money was voted by Parliament for the provision of 
Specialist services, but that fell through on account of the War.” 
(Brock, Q. 28,835.) Medical benefit is at present a general prac- 
fitioner service ; but it cannot seriously be claimed that this is 
% satisfactory state of affairs. Tt means that the medical service 
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