MAJORITY REPORT. 
25 
AR 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEALTH SERVICES. 
(7) That the various Medical Services organised by the State 
will continue to expand both in their scope and in the range of 
persons to whom they apply. (paras. 55-56, 115.) 
(8) That these services should be maintained in close rela- 
tionship with each other, both at the centre and in their local 
administration. (para. 123.) 
(9) That in considering any changes or developments in the 
Insurance Medical Service regard should always be had to the 
importance of the fullest possible co-ordination with other 
health services. (paras. 115, 120.) 
MEDICAL AND TREATMENT BENEFITS. 
(10) That medical benefit has been a valued and successful 
element in the Scheme of National Health Insurance. (para. 74.) 
(11) That while it has been inevitable hitherto that medical 
benefit should be confined to a general practitioner service, this 
limitation has detracted from the value of the benefit and its 
removal is urgently desirable. (para. 261.) 
(12) That the additional benefits of a treatment character 
have been, on the whole, successful and appreciated, though in 
varying degrees, but that they suffer from the following defects 
inherent in the conditions under which they are provided :— 
(a) They are only available for those insured persons who 
are members of Societies having surpluses at valuation, and 
only for those members who fulfil certain qualifying con- 
ditions, and that consequently large classes of insured 
persons are debarred from participating in these valuable 
services. 
(b) Even among the Societies giving a particular type of 
treatment benefit there is no uniformity in the content of 
the benefit, with the result that there is widespread con- 
fusion in the minds of the insured persons as to what 
precisely their rights are. 
(¢) The arrangements made between Societies and pro- 
fessional bodies are wanting in authority and uniformity, 
and in some cases are accompanied bv undesirable conditions 
(para. 81.) 
MATERNITY BENEFIT. 
(18) That it is desirable that, as soon as funds are available, 
the scope of maternity benefit should be expanded to cove: 
medical and midwifery services in addition to a cash payment; 
that the service element should then be administered by the local 
Health Authorities and be co-ordinated with the other local 
medical services: and that a cash element should be retained