MAJORITY REPORT. 
51 
wk Sense 
recommends medical unification of the services. ‘‘ Provision in 
connexion with maternity and infant welfare *’ should be raade 
‘‘ an integral part of the Insurance Scheme or brought into proper 
relation thereto >’ (App. XL/VII 19-20). In paragraph 29 of the 
same Appendix they point out that ‘‘ attendance in connexion 
with confinement is expressly excluded from medical benefit, 
and such public provision as insured women and the wives of 
insured men can avail themselves of is under other auspices 
and is not complete in character.” They recommend that in 
addition to a cash payment there should be suitable ante-natal 
examination and supervision, attendance at confinement and 
during the puerperal period by a midwife or doctor as the case 
requires, consultant and specialist service available for difficult 
cases, provision for institutional treatment where necessary 
(App. XLVII, 29, 30; Q. 15,118-15,129). 
106. The Society of Medical Officers of Health who, &s 
representing the medical advisers of the bodies responsible for 
the work of the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, speak with 
special authority in this matter, say that *‘ the maternity and 
child welfare schemes have involved local authorities in large 
expenditure frequently greatly exceeding the total amount of 
maternity benefit paid in their district.” They point out that 
‘““ These schemes are of the same essential nature as maternity 
benefit and the only practical method by which this latter benefit 
can be administered in the interests of the mother and child 
is by requiring local authorities to administer it through their 
statutory Maternity and Child Welfare Committees.” After 
reciting the need for the same elements of medical attention as 
those recommended by the British Medical Association they go 
on to say that ‘‘ maternity benefit even in money value should 
vary according to the necessity of the mother and the medical 
character of the case ’’ (App. LVI, 9). They conclude with the 
following recommendations :— 
‘“ Maternity benefit, whether in its present, or in an 
extended form, should cease to be administered by Approved 
Societies and be administered both in money and kind by 
local authorities; which, in their turn, should be made 
definitely responsible for providing medical attention. The 
attendance upon maternity cases should not be an obligation 
upon a panel practitioner.” (App. LVI, 14 (10) ; Q. 16,992.) 
‘“ Maternity benefit should provide for all necessary 
medical attendance in pregnancy and maternity, and 
medical benefit should be understood to be exclusive of such 
medical attendance.”” (App. LVI, 14 (11).) 
107. Very interesting evidence on this subject was given by the 
late Mr. Benjamin Broadbent, who devoted so much of his life 
to the furtherance of public health work, especially in its bearing 
on the welfare of mothers and children. He regarded the