§ Lord EDMUND TALBOTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the case of a woman who had attempted suicide, consequent on being pregnant, and was at the request of the magistrate persuaded by the Catholic priest to go to the Uxbridge workhouse infirmary; whether, on the day after her confinement, the officials refused to let the priest know the ward in which the woman had been placed and threw difficulties in the way of his being able to administer spiritual assistance; whether, on the matter being referred to the Local Government Board, 855W the Board approved the action of the workhouse authorities; and, if so, how this action of the Local Government Board can be reconciled with the various orders and instructions relating to ministers of religion having admittance to workhouses for the purpose of affording religious assistance?
§ Mr. BURNSMy attention has been called to this case. I am informed that the woman was confined on 1st March, and that on the following day the priest visited the infirmary, but was refused admission, it being explained to him that by the order of the medical officer the woman could not be seen unless dangerously ill, or unless some special reasons were given to him, until 12 or 14 days had elapsed. I am further informed that on 11th March the priest again visited the infirmary, forced his way into the lying-in ward, and ordered the nurse in charge to leave, which she declined to do. The Local Government Board, on being applied to by the guardians, expressed the view that the guardians should not interfere with the directions of the medical officer with regard to the health of his patients, and that the nurse was right in declining to leave the ward on the occasion referred to. A licensed minister of the religious persuasion of an inmate of the workhouse, on the request of an inmate, may enter the workhouse for the purpose of giving him religious assistance, but he must not interfere with good order and discipline. In the present case, I do not understand that a request was made by the woman for the attendance of the priest. The inspector of the district is, however, in communication with the parties on the subject, and I trust that arrangements will be made which will prevent difficulty in any future case in connection with it.