§ 36. Sir Basil Neven-Spenceasked the Secretary of State for War how long the pay and conditions of service of the Q.A.I.M.N.S. have been under review; and when he expects to be able to make a statement.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe scales of pay of nursing officers in the Army Nursing Service have been reviewed periodically in normal course, and there have, in fact, been some increases on review within the past 12 months. The pay and conditions of service for the future are under consideration. It is a matter of some complexity, but I will do my best to expedite a statement.
§ Sir B. Neven-SpenceWill the right hon. Gentleman say when this consideration first began?
§ Mr. ShinwellA few months ago.
§ Sir B. Neven-SpenceCould he say when general demobilisation took place?
§ Mr. ShinwellThat is quite another question.
§ 37. Sir B. Neven-Spenceasked the Secretary of State for War what was the number of nursing officers of the Q.A.I.M.N.S. required to meet commitments on 1st January, 1949; and what was the number actually available on that date.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe answer to the first part of the Question is 1,892, and to the second 726.
§ Sir B. Neven-SpenceIn view of the very serious shortage disclosed is not this due to the extraordinary delay which has taken place in settling the terms and conditions of service?
§ Mr. ShinwellNo, Sir, I think not. There is considerable difficulty in securing the services of nurses even for civil hospitals.
§ Sir B. Neven-SpenceExactly. Is that not borne out by my question that, if these terms and conditions had been settled before general mobilisation took place, there would not have been this shortage?
§ 38. Sir B. Neven-Spenceasked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to make the best possible use of the available strength of nursing officers of the Q.A.I.M.N.S.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn order to make the best possible use of the available strength of nursing officers, convalescent wards in all large Army hospitals have been placed in the charge of non-commissioned officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps; this enables nursing officers to be concentrated on the care of acute cases. Other steps taken include the closing of maternity wards in some family hospitals, responsibility for the confinements being handed over to the civilian medical authorities.
§ Sir B. Neven-SpenceIs it not highly undesirable that the nursing services available to the Forces and their families should be restricted in this way, and, furthermore, is not the Minister aware that, under the present arrangements, with the present shortage, a great many Army 939 nurses are having to work unconscionably long hours, that they cannot get leave, or may have their leave cut short, and cannot always get their off-duty time?
§ Mr. ShinwellNaturally, when there is a scarcity of nursing personnel, there must be some difficulty, but we are doing our best to overcome the difficulty. The fact is that the supply is not appropriate to our needs.
Mr. VaneIs the Minister aware that there is some dissatisfaction among nursing officers that they are being differently treated from members of the A.T.S. and are not allowed to be released on the age and length of service basis?
§ Mr. ShinwellThat is one of the points we are now considering.
§ Colonel Stoddart-ScottIs the Minister aware that there are now more trained nurses than ever before in the history of the land?
§ Mr. ShinwellIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman will provide the evidence, I shall be very glad to avail myself of it.