b
4
MAJORITY REPORT.
complaints arise *’ (App. XXXIII, 24 and 26). ** In the majority
of cases the doctors take very great pains to give a willing and
conscientious service *’ (Q. 12,297).
Ministry of Health Inquiry Room.—* Surprisingly few com-
plaints against the medical service are received, although the
object of these visits (i.e., of visitors to the Inquiry Room) is to
bring forward an insurance grievance. . . . With very few excep-
tions those persons who speak to the detriment of the insurance
medical service have never been under the treatment of panel
practitioner *’ (App. XLI, 14).
The Standing Committee of Scottish Insured Women.— The
Committee regards medical benefit as the most important benefit
under the National Health Insurance Act *’ (App. XLVI, 18).
The British Medical Association.—** In the year 1922 both the
Representative Body of the Association and the Conference of
representatives of Local Medical and Panel Committees declared
that the measure of success which has attended the experiment of
providing medical benefit under the National Health Insurance
Act system has been sufficient to justify the profession in uniting
to ensure the continuance and improvement of an Insurance
system.
(a) Large numbers, indeed whole classes of persons are now
receiving a real medical attention which they formerly did
not receive at all.
(b) The number of practitioners in proportion to the popu-
lation in densely populated areas has increased.
(¢) The amount and character of the medical attention
given is superior to that formerly given in the best of the old
clubs, and immensely superior to that given in the great
majority of the clubs which were far from the best.
(d) Illness is now coming under skilled observation and
treatment at an earlier stage than was formerly the case.
(e) Speaking generally, the work of practitioners has been
given a bias towards prevention which was formerly not so
marked.
(f) Clinical records have been or are being provided which
may be made of great service in relation to medical research
and public health.
(9) Co-operation among practitioners is being encouraged
to an increasing degree.
(h) There is now a more marked recognition than formerly
of the collective responsibility of the profession to the com-
munity in respect of all health matters.”
The Association add that ‘ all these are immense gains, and
though it is possible that some of them may not be wholly due
to the establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme,
they have certainly been hastened and intensified by that system *’
(App. XLVII, 5 and 6; Q. 14,613-14.615).