§ 28. Mrs. Castleasked the Minister of Health what deductions for board and lodging and uniform are made from the salaries of staff nurses, sisters, matrons and doctors, respectively, when resident in hospital.
§ Mrs. CastleDoes not that reply mean that staff nurses are having as much deducted from their small salaries for board and lodging as are the doctors and that sisters and matrons are having more deducted? Does not this make it even more imperative that the low salaries of nurses should be increased immediately to adjust this further example of unfair discrimination against these hard-working and under-paid people?
§ Miss PittThe hon. Lady has not, perhaps, taken in all the figures which I had to give her so quickly. It is true that a staff nurse may pay a little more for board and lodging and uniform than does the house doctor on the lowest part of the scale, but the scale for doctors increases considerably. In any event, the conditions which apply are not comparable.
§ Mrs. CastleIs it not intolerable also that the nurses should have any deductions at all made in respect of the laundering and maintenance of their uniform, something which they have to wear for the sake of the patients and not for their own sake? Is not this simply another example of the mean, miserly way in which the Government treat them?