SIR,—" Janus " writes in your issue of December 15th,
" So far there is no evidence whatever that the patients as a whole, meaning the voters of the country, are in the least opposed to the National Health Insurance scheme." The reason for the public's apparent sanction of the scheme is due to their unfailing readiness to accept Government promises without further enquiry. Indeed one would not expect the public to be able to express an opinion without having had the opportunity of discussing the scheme at meetings similar to those held by the medical profession throughout the country. The doctors, however, know only too well what Government promises mean. When the Government say, for instance, that private practice will be allowed to continue for those who desire it, the doctors want to know how such practice can possibly survive under the conditions sug- gested. Surely if everyone is to be entitled to free medical attention, it is putting the doctor in an odious position to suggest to him that the payment of a private fee should ensure better attention. At present " panel " doctors like to attend " panel" patients under the N.H.I. scheme and not outside it—Yours faithfully, H. STEPHEN PASMORE, M.B., B.S. (Lund.).
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