§ 31. Sir Henry Morris-Jonesasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the deplorable conditions under which probationer nurses work at present in some of the London voluntary hospitals; and whether he will conduct an inquiry into the position?
§ Mr. E. BrownNo, Sir, I have not received any representations to this effect. I will inquire into any specific cases that my hon. Friend may bring to my notice.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that probationer nurses in voluntary hospitals in London complain of the inordinately long hours they have to work, of the quality and quantity of the food they are given and of other restrictions which place severe handicaps upon them?
§ Mr. BrownPerhaps my hon. Friend will give me some hint where I can obtain these representations, which I have not received. I may tell him that the shortage of nurses in the area to which he refers is in the very institutions where pay and conditions are best.
§ Mr. MesserIs it not the case that a probationer nurse at a hospital is undergoing training, and cannot leave merely because there is a better job somewhere else?