§ 47. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, whilst there is a shortage of nurses in general hospitals, teaching hospitals frequently have a waiting list or more nurses than they require; and what action he is taking to redress this inequality.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 23rd June, to a Question on the same subject by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson).
§ 48. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that student nurses who fail in their examination at the end of their three months' preliminary training at one hospital frequently repeat their training at one or more different hospitals and fail in their examinations in each case; and if he will make regulations to put an end to this practice which wastes public money and does not produce nurses.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI have no evidence that this practice is widespread, but in any case I would not wish to do anything to prevent a girl who wishes to become a nurse from having a second chance.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs my right hon. and learned Friend aware that I know of a nurse who went successively to four hispitals in Manchester and did practically nothing at any of them and eventually went back to Ireland, having lived for a year at our expense, and she was still not a nurse at the end of that time? Will he look into such cases if I send him information?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI should think that such a case must be very exceptional. I have known people in my own profession who practised successfully after having a certain initial difficulty to overcome.