§ MR. DALYI beg to ask the Chief Secreary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that an order has been issued by the Local Government Board directing that only paid nurses shall take charge of the sick poor in Irish workhouses in future, which will entail heavy expense on the ratepayers; whether Boards of Guardians in Ireland were consulted before this order was issued; and whether he will direct that half the salaries of paid nurses in Irish workhouses be paid out of the Imperial Exchequer?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe substitution of paid trained nurses for pauper assistance, while, perhaps, entailing some additional expense, will undoubtedly result in increased efficiency in the management of the union hospitals and in the treatment of the patients therein. For many years the Local Government Board have continually impressed upon Boards of Guardians the necessity of providing trained or experienced nurses in workhouse infirmaries and fever hospitals, and it was in consequence of the unwillingness of some Boards of Guardians to carry out the recommendations 1048 of the Local Government Board to appoint qualified persons as nurses that the order in question, which is practically to the same effect as the English order, has been issued. Boards of Guardians were not consulted as to the issue of the order. The question raised by the third paragraph is under consideration, but at present I am not prepared to make any further statement in reference to it.