HC Deb 28 October 1943 vol 393 cc346-7
6. Commander Sir Archibald Southby

asked the Minister of Labour how many full-time nurses are employed in factories and works throughout the country; and whether the salaries paid to these nurses are the same as those paid to nurses in hospitals and nursing homes?

Mr. Tomlinson

I have no exact information on this point, but an analysis of the registration forms received as a result of the national registration of nurses and midwives, carried out on 10th April, showed that at that time there were 8,389 nurses employed in industry, of whom 185 were men; about half the women so employed have been admitted either to the general or to one of the supplementary parts of the State Register for nurses. I have no information with regard to the latter part of the Question.

Sir A. Southby

Will the hon. Gentleman make inquiries regarding the latter part of my Question, as it is a very important matter? Further, while it is essential that factories should be adequately staffed, there is reason to suppose that some of them are overstaffed, with the result that the civilian population is unable to get any nursing service in many cases. Will he therefore have a further inquiry made into the matter?

Mr. Tomlinson

I will have inquiries made, but I cannot promise to go as far as the hon. and gallant Gentleman suggests.

Sir A. Southby

After the inquiries have been made will the hon. Gentleman communicate with me so that I can put down another Question?

Mr. Tomlinson

Yes, Sir.

Mr. McNeil

Does not my hon. Friend agree that a large number of these nurses employed in industry might be freed for civilian use and a quota of less well-trained nurses taken on?

Mr. Tomlinson

My connection with industry and nurses engaged in industry leads me to suggest that very careful thought will have to be given to this matter before industrial nurses are taken away. It has taken a long time to get them in, and now they are in it would seem to be a retrograde step to take them out.

Sir A. Southby

The trouble is that there are too many of them in.

Sir Joseph Lamb

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that many trained nurses have left hospitals and have been taken into industry, where what they are doing is very largely Red Cross work? After dressing injuries they send patients to hospitals where there are no nurses.