§ MR. J. C. MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the report of the St. Olave's Union, Southwark, stating that the medical officer had complained of the action of two Guardians being found in a duty room with two nurses at 11.30 p.m. (one of the former smoking a cigar), under the plea of visiting the wards; and whether he would take steps to have suitable hours fixed for visiting the infirmary by Guardians in accordance with the medical officer's request
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREMy attention has been called to this matter, and I find that the facts are substantially as stated in the question. The Local Government Board have not thought it expedient to fix the hours during which a Guardian may visit the Workhouse or Infirmary; but they have expressed a decided opinion that the case would be a very exceptional one in which it would be proper that a Guardian should pay such a visit late at night, and that to justify his doing so there ought to be strong prima facie grounds for believing that special and unusual circumstances render the visit necessary. The Board have also stated that a visit late at night ought not to be paid to a sick ward, unless it had been previously ascertained from the medical officer that it would not be detrimental to any of the sick occupants of the ward.
§ MR. MACDONAAre the Guardians justified in smoking cigars?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI should say not.