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18
Poor Law Authority should be responsible for the fee, when the
medical man cannot otherwise obtain payment, and should be
empowered, if they think fit, to charge the fee paid as "relief on
loan."
Full effect could not be given to this recommendation without
legislation, but the Board regard it as of immediate importance
that medical practitioners should, so far as practicable, feel assured
of a reasonable payment for their services in such cases; and they
desire to impress upon Boards of Guardians that they should give
effect, if they have not already done so, to the suggestion made in
the circular letter of 29th July, 1907, viz.:—that medical men and
certified midwives practising in the poor law union should be
informed that, as regards any poor person in whose case the
attendance of a registered medical practitioner is required (see
Rule E 18 of the Rules of the Central Midwives Board), the
Guardians will be prepared to exercise their powers under Section 2
of the Poor Law Amendment Act, 1 48, and to pay a reasonable
remuneration to the medical man called in.
The Board think that any medical practitioner who makes a
claim on the Guardians for a fee in such a case, might properly be
asked to state definitely that after making reasonable efforts he
had failed to secure payment from the person attended.
The fees paid by the Board of Guardians in non-pauper cases during
the past year amounted to £24 11s. 6d.
The Public Health and Housing Committee were informed these
cases are dealt with under the Poor Law in the same manner as applications
for parochial relief, by investigation by relieving officers, etc. The
Committee were strongly of opinion it is extremely undesirable that
non-pauper cases should become associated with Poor Law administration
under the circumstances in which these fees become due, and that such
association must lead in many cases to the weakening of the spirit of selfdependence
which now restrains many of the poor from relying upon
parochial relief except in case of urgent necessity.
The Committee recommended that the Council concur in this opinion,
and that further representations be made to the Local Government Board
to this effect, and urging that sanction be given to payment of these fees
by the Council as proposed, pending legislation on the subject; also
reiterating the opinion that Section 17 of the Midwives (No. 2) Bill should