If the Doctors Refuse?

Consultation with the Chancellor of the Exchequer would, doubtless, in any case, be essential if a Bill were contemplated involving any charge on the Exchequer. And it appears inevitable that there should be legislation; unless, indeed, the Minister should propose a 7s. settlement, and adhere to his proposal, notwithstanding the storm. Apart from legislative provisions of a purely temporary character, the amount available for medical benefit is 9s. 6d. This happens to coincide with the present amount of the capitation fee, but is in fact a different figure. It includes provision for drugs and mileage, and leaves about 7s. for the doctors' capitation fee. Legislation, which would become necessary if the settlement were at some higher figure than 7s., would be of the simplest possible character. It would merely provide for the substitution of x shillings for the sum of 9s. 6d. which is charged against insurance funds by the Act of 1920 ; x shillings would be the total cost of medical benefit including the amount necessary to obtain from the doctors an adequate, reasonably contented service.