§ MR. RENDALL (Gloucestershire, Thornbury)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will explain why nurses at Netley Hospital, and in the Army's service generally, are not permitted when off duty, except when on furlough, to take part in public or private dances, seeing that the prohibition does not apply to medical men in the same hospitals; whether a highly trained professional class, such as nurses, are to be placed in a different position on the ground of sex to officers in the Army, who, provided they are on duty at the appointed time have no restrictions placed on their use of time when off duty; and whether he will at once free the nurses from this interference with their liberty.
§ MR. HALDANEI have consulted the Nursing Board which contains among its members many ladies of great experience in these matters, and they have advised me to the following effect:—The Nursing Board requires for Her Majesty's Nursing Service gentlewomen who are devoted first and foremost to their work for its own sake and the sake of their patients, and who will, therefore, desire to live quietly and unostentatiously without looking for much gaiety. Occasional attendance at operas, theatres, concerts, and other places of amusement is not incompatible with the due performance of their duties, and is allowed at discretion of the matron; but the late hours involved by attendance at balls and dances, in the opinion of the Board, incapacitates them from giving proper attention to their patients on the following day.
MR. CLEMENT EDWARDS (Denbigh District)What does the right 1316 hon. Gentleman mean by "these matters"?
§ MR. HALDANEI refer to the arrangements which have been made for the performance of the duties of the nurses. I may say that in this case the weight of authority of these experienced matrons and highly trained ladies has prevailed over my natural instinct.