HC Deb 05 December 1967 vol 755 cc287-8W
Dr. David Kerr

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement on the refusal by St. George's Hospital, Tooting, to employ a Guyanese nurse; and if he will give an assurance that this decision was made regardless of racial considerations.

Mr. K. Robinson

I understand from the Board of Governors of St. George's Hospital that this nurse applied for a part-time appointment at St. George's Hospital, Tooting Grove, stating that she would be interested in working in the Casualty Department or the Recovery Room; and that at interview she said that she was married with no children and wished to work 40 hours per week on day duty only, Monday to Friday, up to 6 p.m. each day. The hospital has only a limited number of posts for nurses who wish to work nearly full-time but are unable to take a share of the less popular duties such as evenings, weekends and night work and in filling these posts gives preference to married nurses with children. The application was, therefore, rejected. The Board of Governors assure me that this decision was made regardless of racial considerations and I can find no evidence which would lead me to doubt this assurance. Of the total of 960 nursing

Mr. K. Robinson

The following are the figures for 1966:

staff in the St. George's Group, 124 are from overseas and over 100 (including two sisters) are from Africa, India and the Caribbean.