§ Mr. PICKERSGILLasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that a woman in the maternity ward of the Hammersmith Infirmary was, within 15 days after giving birth to her first child, set, mounted on steps, to wash the paint on walls, and that in reply to a protest the officials stated that the woman was put to do what all other patients did; whether the Board has issued any regulations to boards of guardians respecting the employment of women soon after childbirth; and whether what was done in this case has the sanction of the Local Government Board?
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§ Mr. BURNSI answered on Thursday last a question on this subject put to me by my hon. Friend the Member for the Bermondsey Division. As I then stated, I understand that the case referred to is that of a woman who was admitted to the infirmary of the parish of Hammersmith on 3rd March last and confined on the following day. I am informed that it is not the fact that the woman was mounted on steps and set to wash the paint on the walls. No regulations have been issued of the kind referred to in the latter part of the question. I understand that at the Hammersmith Infirmary all work performed by the patients is purely voluntary and of a very light character.