§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that by a new rule the Irish Local Government Board insist upon workhouse hospital nurses having in all cases a minimum hospital training of three years, which rule is retrospective; is it intended this rule shall apply to the present nurses, although these were supplied by local intelligence and private charity; and will their case be considered, since they were possessed of one year's hospital training and subsequent private nursing?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThere is no rule or regulation of the Local Government Board to the effect stated in the first paragraph. But there is a rule which provides that if there is one nurse in each workhouse with two years' training in a recognised hospital one-half of her salary will be recouped to the Guardians under Section 58 of the Local Government Act. This rule does not affect the position of existing nurses who do not possess the qualification mentioned; their salary will be wholly paid by the Guardians as heretofore. Where the existing infirmary nurse of a workhouse has received trainin though not sufficient to comply with the Board's regulation, the Guardians are authorised to allow her, if approved of by the medical officer, leave of absence for such a period as will enable her to complete the training necessary to place her on the Board's Register of trained nurses.