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Hospital Nurses And Domestic Staffs

Volume 388: debated on Thursday 15 April 1943

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11.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the great difficulty experienced by all classes of hospitals in keeping efficient from the dearth of nurses; and will he take steps to prevent further secessions from this service?

13.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of taking steps to secure the return to the nursing service of trained nurses; to impose a freezing order on the domestic staffs of hospitals and to direct suitable persons to take up domestic work in isolation hospitals?

The measures necessary to mobilise the whole of our nursing resources, including the suggestion made by the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) are at present being actively considered by the Departments concerned in consultation with the recently appointed National Advisory Council. The recent registration of nurses and midwives was a first step in ascertaining our available resources. The shortage of domestic staff in hospitals is part of the wider question of domestic help generally which I am at present considering with a view to seeing what further steps can be taken to assist the position.

Is the Minister aware of the difficulty of some nurses in getting away from hospitals to register, and can he do anything to meet that position?

If my hon. Friend will give me any information where that difficulty arose, I will take steps to see that facilities are provided.

12.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the pending closing of the colony for tubercular boys at Burrow Hill, Frimley, owing to lack of nursing and domestic staff; and what steps is he taking to deal with the situation, in view of the many other health establishments and hospitals that are similarly placed?

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, on 13th April, to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne), from which it will be seen that shortage of staff was not the only difficulty. As regards the second part of the Question, my Department has submitted certain domestic staff to this colony during the past few months and will continue to make every effort to meet its needs so long as the colony is kept in being. As my hon. Friend is aware, certain steps have already been taken to deal generally with the recruitment and distribution of nurses and midwives, and I have under active consideration the general problem of domestic help.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the Women's Services, such as the A.T.S. and the W.A.A.F., are not too avaricious at the expense of civilian life, and further has he any machinery to find out whether this vast and growing woman-power in the Services is being properly utilised?

That is another question, but as a constant watch is kept upon it, and having regard to the imperative need to get as many men as possible of grade A category who are in sedentary employment into the fighting line, I do not think there is any waste going on at all.