HC Deb 14 June 1895 vol 34 cc1154-6
MR. M'CARTAN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a letter which appeared in the Irish papers, headed "Misery in Workhouses," signed by Sir Philip C. Smyly, M.D., chairman of the Irish Medical Association, stating that a circular letter asking for information had been sent to the medical officers of the workhouses and workhouse infirmaries in Ireland; whether he is aware that it is publicly declared that the replies of the medical officers show that in 43 infirmaries the nursing is entirely in the hands of pauper women mostly burdened with children; that these women have to take charge of serious medical and surgical cases, as well as of the lunatic patients; that in 61 infirmaries they have charge of paupers both night and day; that in 65 the sanitary arrangements are of the most disgusting character imaginable; and that in 43 of them there are neither plates, knives nor forks for the poor inmates to eat their food with; and whether, under the circumstances, he will consider the desirability of having a public inquiry into the condition, working, and the general system of workhouses in Ireland?

MR. J. MORLEY

I have read the letter to which reference is made, and which contains the statements set forth in the question. The Local Government Board inform me that they do not consider that the letter fairly represents the actual condition of workhouses in Ireland. The statement that there are 43 workhouses in which the nursing is entirely in the hands of pauper women is, the Board points out, absolutely without foundation, as there is no workhouse infirmary which is not in charge of a responsible paid officer. There are 641 paid nurses in the 159 unions in Ireland, who have no duties to perform other than the nursing of the sick. Nor do the Board think that in any case patients suffer from want of proper food, and a medical officer is entitled to order any description of food he thinks fit for patients under his care. With regard to sanitation, ventilation, &c., medical officers are bound by the regulations to report any defects in such matters to the guardians, and when they do this it is the Board's invariable practice to support their recommendations. Much has been done in recent years in this direction, and doubtless much still remains to be done. The Local Government Board will welcome the efforts of any organisation working with the same objects, and they only regret that the Irish Medical Association have not seen their way to supply them with specific information upon this subject. The Board, however, have brought under the notice of their inspectors the alleged defects, which will be made the subject of detailed inquiry by them.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

asked whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman had been directed to the recent inquiry, under the Local Government Board, into the case of the Athlone Workhouse, where the very worst system of nursing was pursued, and the most serious results had accrued; and whether the right hon. Gentleman would consider the appeal which had been made to him by the hon. Member opposite, and would order some kind of public inquiry, either by Royal Commission or by a Departmental Committee, to investigate these matters independently altogether of the Local Government Board.

MR. J. MORLEY

said, that his attention had been drawn to the state of things in the Athlone Workhouse. He had watched the state of things in the Irish workhouses with much care since he had been in Office, and he confessed that in some instances he had found grave reasons for dissatisfaction; but the Local Government Board were constantly drawing the attention of the Boards of Guardians to their duty in this respect, although it was not a very light matter to overrule the Boards of Guardians. He, however, could assure the hon. Gentleman that the matter was engaging his serious attention. The subject called for revision, but what particular form that revision should take he could not say at present.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

, in order that the right hon. Gentleman might not be taken by surprise, he begged to give notice that he should call attention to the subject of workhouse treatment in Ireland on the Vote for the Irish Local Government Board.