HL Deb 26 April 1901 vol 92 cc1417-9
LORD MONTEAGLE OF BRANDON

My Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government whether any non-clinical hospitals in Ireland have been recognised by the Local Government Board for Ireland as competent to train probationer nurses in accordance with the terms of their Circular of the 12th January, 1899, and, if so, which? And whether any workhouse hospitals in Ireland not so recognised fulfil the necessary conditions as laid down in that Circular as regards the number of beds and the medical and nursing staff, and, if so, which? I also beg to move the motion standing in my name.

Moved, for a Return showing for each union in Ireland:—

  1. 1. The number of beds in workhouse infirmary and fever hospital.
  2. 2. The number of patients on 1st January last, or other given day.
  3. 3. The number of "trained nurses" as defined by the circular letter of the Local Government for Ireland, No. 4 M./99, Miscellaneous, of 12th January, 1899.
  4. 4. The number of nurses other than those "trained" as defined above.
  5. 5. The number of paid attendants employed in accordance with the provisions of the Nursing Order, No. 78 M./97, of the 11th September, 1897.
  6. 6. The number of pauper inmates employed under Article II. of the last named Order.—(Lord Monteagle of Brandon.)

THE EARL OF DENBIGH

The Government are prepared to grant this Return, but in order to make it more complete they would suggest that particulars as to the emoluments of trained and untrained nurses should also be given. It is to be observed that no "paid attendants," as distinguished from nurses, have been employed under the Nursing Order of 1897, as the Order does not provide for the employment of attendants. The number of "paid attendants" in workhouses can, however, be given, and if this is what the noble Lord desires, the information will be supplied, and an explanatory footnote added to the Return. The Belfast Union Workhouse Infirmary, including the fever hospital, has been recognised by the Local Government Board as an hospital where probationer nurses can be trained in accordance with the terms of their Circular of the 12th January, 1899. Negotiations are in progress for establishing training schools for nurses in Cork, Limerick, and Galway, and it is hoped that such projects may be carried out. As regards the last paragraph of the question, with the exception of the Dublin workhouses no others possess the necessary requirements for imparting a full course of training, but other workhouses are putting forth schemes for giving a less complete course of training, and the nurses so trained Tinder schemes approved by the Local Government Board would be recognised as competent to undertake nursing duties in poor law infirmaries or hospitals, though they would not be regarded as fully trained for the purposes of Section 58 (2) (a) (ii) of the Local Government Act, 1898. Such a scheme has already been approved of at Clonmel Union Infirmary.

LORD MONTEAGLE OF BRANDON

I beg to add to my motion, as suggested by the noble Lord, a request for particulars as to the emoluments of trained and untrained nurses.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

Ordered to be laid before the House Return showing for each union in Ireland:—

  1. 1. The number of beds in workhouse infirmary and fever hospital.
  2. 2. The number of patients on 1st January last, or other given day.
  3. 3. The number and emoluments of "trained nurses" as defined by the circular letter of the Local Government for Ireland, No. 4 M./99, Miscellaneous, of 12th January, 1899.
  4. 4. The number and emoluments of nurses other than those "trained" as defined above.
  5. 5. The number of paid attendants with their emolument employed in accordance with the provisions of the Nursing Order, No. 78 M./97, of the 11th September, 1897.
  6. 6. The number of pauper inmates employed under Article II. of the last named Order.