THE PANEL SYSTEM
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I have read with considerable interest the article in your April 27th number on the Panel System, by Dr. Roberts. I also happen to be in the position of being able to give a first-hand opinion of the working of this system, having been since 1912 a very active member of a County Insurance Committee, and having served on all its Sub-Committees. Our Committee certainly cannot be described as merely " a Sub-Committee of the Approved Societies," for, in addition to the representatives of those societies, we have a large representation of social workers and doctors, all without exception acting together in the interest of the insured person.
Our Committee has the responsibility for administering National Health Insurance benefits to some 445,000 persons who are served by 657 doctors and 532 chemists. We have made payments to doctors up to 1932 of approximately £3,000,000, and to chemists of over £815,000. We have always been in the happy position of having the loyal co- operation of practically the whole of the medical profession in our county, thus having available for our insured population the services of the most highly qualified doctors in our area, " such as automatically give to their patients the best they can." All reported cases of " under-attention " are fully investigated by the Medical Service Sub-Committee, and the fact that during 21 years the Committee has only had before it fewer than 100 such cases surely speaks for the generally smooth working of the Act.
While recognizing fully the defects and limitations of the Panel System, I certainly, from long and intimate experience, cannot in any way regard the Act as " merely a leaky piece of medical makeshift," but rather as an honest, and to a great extent successful, attempt to safeguard the health of many millions of our people. Only those of us who can recall the grim reality of the state of things before 1912 for countless workers, especially women and girls, can fully appreciate what the National Health Insurance benefits have meant in the improved health and welfare of such workers.—I am, Sir, &c., ELIZABETH M. GREEN. 17 Beverley Road, Colchester.
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