8.—7 [PT. I]

YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH, 1944.

SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT.

Minister of Health. AN ESTIMATE of the Sum that will be required in the Year ending 31st March, 1944, to defray the Contingencies, and Expenses of the Medical, Hospital, etc., Benefits. Summary.

(as) Additional provision this year to cover possible establishment of further special arrangements under section 82. (6) Since the introduction of the General Medical Services Refund Scheme on Ist November, 1941, the claims for mileage fees have shown a gradual increase, and the amount paid last year is not considered a full normal year's expenditure.

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1943-44. 1942-43. Salaries. Other Charges. Total. Voted. Expended. Vote—Medical, Hospital, &c., Benefits— £ £ £ £ £ Subdivision I.—Maternity Benefits .. .. 539,000 539,000 560,000 505,224 „ II.—Medical Benefits .. .. 1,030,000 1,030,000 960,000 1,016,053 „ 111.—Hospital Benefits .. .. 2,076,000 2,076,000 1,472,000 1,540,959 „ IV. —Pharmaceutical Benefits .. .. 537,000 537,000 400,000 563,247 „ V. —Supplementary Benefits .. .. 160,000 160,000 125,000 97,424 GROSS Total .. .. .. .. 4,342,000 4,342,000 3,517,000 3,722,907 CREDITS-IN-AID .. .. .. .. 10,000 10,000 2,400 1,728 NET TOTAL .. 4,332,000 4,332,000 3,514,600 3,721,179 i rf? p Number Of VOTE-MEDICAL, HOSPITAL, ETC., 1943 44. 1942-43. 1943-44 1942 43 BENEFITS. Voted. Expended. Subdivision No. I .—Maternity Benefits. £ £ £ Charges for and incidental ToPublic hospital fees .. .. .. .. .. 110,000 110,000 110,217 Private hospital fees .. .. .. .. .. 220,000 230,000 207,575 Medical practitioners'fees .. .. .. .. 170,000 180,000 158,208 Mileage fees—medical practitioners .. .. .. 7,000 7,000 5,089 Obstetrical nurses'fees and expenses .. .. .. 20,000 25,000 15,089 Contribution to Consolidated Fund : Value of discontinued maintenance fees (St. Helens Hospital) .. .. 12,000 8,000 9,046 Estimated credits-in-aid under Section 51 of the Public Revenues Act, 1926 (see end of vote) — £ Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 300 . Total-Subdivision No. I .. .. 539,000 560,000 505,224 Subdivision No. II. —Medical Benefits. Charges for and incidental to — Capitation fees .. .. .. .. .. 80,000 100,000 71,149 General medical services .. .. .. 800,000 750,000 831,397 Special arrangements under section 82, Social Security Act .. (a) 75,000 50 000 49,468 Mileage fees: Medical practitioners .. .. .. (6) 75,000 60,000 64,039 Estimated credits-in-aid under Section 51 of the Public Revenues Act, 1926 (see end of vote) .. £200 — 1,030,000 960,000 1,016,053 j | Total—Subdivision No. II .. - j — —