6 AUGUST 1965, Page 12

The Growth of Private Medical Care

in the Spectator of July 23 with much interest. May I SIR,—I have read Mr. Vaughan's article

Mtn out that the Hospital Saving Association (of idoo) is a member .of the British Hospitals Con- tributory Schemes Association (1948). There are twenty-nine other hospital contributory schemes in the provinces who are members of the BHCSA and several who are not. Whereas provident associations for private 8Pecialist treatment, of which there are only three °Perating on a national scale, are in friendly com- se,titiort with each other, the hospital contributory theme movement recognises. as far as possible, felionally defined areas and the schemes endeavour ,,,`° Provide benefits supplementary and ancillary to Health provided under the National Insurance and oealth Service Acts. Thirty schemes are collecting £3,500,000 a year from more than four million contributors and are therefore (including dependants) augmenting the national services for about a quarter of the popu- lation of England and Wales. , Unfortunately, there is little evidence of any con- tributory scheme activity in Scotland since the incep- tion of the National Health Service and there is foie in Northern Ireland worth speaking of. JOHN DODD JOHN DODD

Honorary Secretary, British Hospitals Contributory Schemes Association (1948) Hospitals Contributory Schemes Association, Royal London Buildings, Baldwin Street, Bristol 1