§ * MR. J. G. TALBOT (Oxford University)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether his attention has been called to a recent distressing case in the Weobley Union of the death of an inmate, subject to epileptic fits, by falling into the fire; and to another in the Atherstone Union of the death of an inmate by drowning, who had been suffering from softening of the brain; whether he is aware that in both these cases the provision for 452 nursing was inadequate; and whether the Local Government Board will issue an Order, requiring a due supply of trained nurses for all workhouse infirmaries, and prohibiting the employment of pauper nurses?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI doubt, from the information furnished to me by the Guardians, whether in either of the cases referred to, when the whole of the facts are carefully considered, it can be fairly concluded that the death was due to an insufficient staff of nurses. As regards the general question, the Local Government Board are fully impressed with the importance of securing efficient nursing in workhouses by an adequate staff, and the Board have recently addressed a communication to all Boards of Guardians bringing this matter specially under their attention. They at the same time stated that whilst they were not prepared to lay down as a rule that in no case should pauper inmates act as attendants in sick wards, as clearly distinguished from nurses, they considered that their services should only be used with the approval of the medical officer, and under the closest supervision at all times of paid officers.
§ * MR. TALBOTfurther asked whether it was not the fact that, in one of these cases, the Coroner's jury had in their verdict recommended the employment of a paid nurse in the Infirmary?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREsaid, that on a review of all the facts of this case, he was unable to come to the conclusion that the death was the result of inadequate nursing.