§ 12. Captain REDMONDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the recent order under the Defence of the Realm Act in Dublin, whereby citizens are prohibited from being out of doors between 11.30 p.m. and 5 a.m., is inflicting serious hardship on the population, especially the poorer section in cases requiring medical and hospital attention; whether the nurses in many of the Dublin hospitals have declined to attend calls, and, as a consequence, maternity and other hospital cases are without the services of nurses and medical practitioners; and whether, in view of the grave consequences to which innocent and suffering people are being subjected, he is prepared to take steps to suspend the order?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo complaints have reached me in this matter. From enquiry at the Dublin hospitals I have ascertained that in no case has there been a refusal to send out nurses in maternity cases. In two cases (Coombe Hospital) where nurses (permits not yet having been obtained) were required during prohibited hours, the police escorted the nurses to their destination. The hospital authorities have since applied for permits for doctors and nurses. I believe as a result of the enquiries made at hospitals that the new Regulations are rather welcome than otherwise to the staffs. There is a greater sense of protection when called out at night, and the only real inconvenience is that caused by the action of the corporation in extinguishing the street lamps at 11.30 p.m., thus leaving the city in complete darkness at night.
§ Captain REDMONDIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the matrons of all the principal hospitals in Dublin, including the Maternity Hospital in Holies Street, and the Coombe Hospital, have stated publicly through the Press that they will refuse to allow any of their nurses out between 12 midnight and 5 a.m.?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI cannot add anything to the answer I have given, one short sentence of which says: "The hospital authorities have since applied for permits for doctors and nurses."
§ Captain REDMONDIs it not a fact that some poor women in a very advanced stage of pregnancy were not able to reach the hospital owing to these iniquitous restrictions?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am not aware of that. I am convinced of this, that in cases of that kind the Government would be prepared to do everything to assist.