MAJORITY REPORT. 
131 
The mere obligation to furnish the expert with a statement of 
the case would have a valuable and educational influence in con- 
straining the practitioner to give definiteness to his ideas. When 
he had to prepare a statement to come under‘the critical eye of 
the expert he would, by that mere fact, become alive to defects 
in his conduct of the case, which he had not previously realised. 
The indirect benefit resulting from such a requirement has, we 
are informed, already been seen in the work of the Regional 
Medical Staff. Again, the specialist’s report will often reveal to 
the practitioner points in diagnosis or treatment which he might 
have overlooked. It will thus add to his knowledge by enabling 
him to assimilate the expert view of his cases as they come along. 
In all these ways the provision of a specialist service would 
operate as a most valuable form of post-graduate instruction and 
would probably be gratefully welcomed by the isolated general 
practitioner. The educational benefits so resulting would not be 
confined to the insured persons, but would be extended to the 
whole range of general practice. 
ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. 
282. The administrative arrangements for this particular 
Provision would be relatively simple and inexpensive in proportion 
to the total cost. They would naturally follow the present lines 
of administration of medical benefit, i.e., the 1esponsibility of 
making local arrangements would lie with the body that takes over 
the work of the Insurance Committee, or possibly with a group 
of such bodies. Their duty would be to frame a scheme in 
accordance with principles laid down by the Ministry, after con- 
sultation with representatives of the medical profession, 
and the adoption of the scheme would be subject to the approval 
of the Ministry. The chief points requiring attention in each 
local scheme would relate to the provision for the selection of the 
Specialists to be employed, the arrangements as to places and 
times at which patients should be examined and treated, the 
employment of ancillary staff, and the rates and methods of 
remuneration. 
283. It should be open to any doctor possessing the requisite 
qualifications to take part in the work, and the decision as to 
whether particular doctors possess the requisite qualifications 
Lught lie in the hands of a mixed lay and medical committee, 
I at least of the medical members being drawn from outside 
8 aren. 
284. The arrangements as to the places and times at which 
Patients should be seen might take a variety of forms. The 
doctors might see the patients at their own consulting rooms; 
arrangements might be made with the hospitals for the work 
to be done in the out-patient departments, or thirdly, the local 
authority administering the benefit might establish the requisite