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19
Local Government Act, 1929.
A brief synopsis of the Council's administrative scheme as
approved by the Ministry of Health was set out in the 1930
Report.
No alterations or developments have taken place during 1933.
Poor Law Medical Out-Relief.
Consequent upon the retirement of Dr. L. F. A. Harrison,
District Medical Officer, in June, 1933, the Public Assistance
Committee considered the recommendations of the Minister of
Health and British Medical Association in regard to other schemes
for the provision of medical attendance to persons in receipt of out
relief. The Council was the first County Borough to adopt a
system whereby persons in receipt of public assistance would be
permitted "open choice" of doctor.
The Medical Practitioners of the district were invited to
attend a meeting of the Public Assistance Committee at which the
essential features of the scheme were discussed.
It was proposed that a panel of practitioners willing to carry
out such duties should be established on similar lines to that of the
National Health Insurance. The patient upon first requiring
medical attention would be permitted to select the name of a doctor
on the panel as his medical attendant for the ensuing twelve
months. A capitation fee of 10s. per annum (exclusive of medicines),
payable in quarterly instalments, was agreed upon and the
scheme was initiated on October 1st, 1933, for an experimental
period of one year.
Subsequently many practitioners accepted service under the
scheme and apart from a few preliminary difficulties in regard to
administration, the arrangement has worked exceedingly smoothly.
The details of the scheme are submitted herewith.