§ Viscountess ASTORasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the conditions under which nursing probationers in many London hospitals at present work, especially with regard to housing accommodation and hours and conditions of duty; and whether he will consider recommending reforms in these connections to all hospitals in receipt of State grants for the benefit both of probationers and of the nursing profession generally?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am fully aware of the unsatisfactory conditions under which many probationer nurses are at present employed, and any steps which the General Nursing Council may propose to remedy this state of affairs will have my sympathetic consideration. State grants, however, are only paid in respect of the treatment of certain specified diseases, and I do not think it would be practicable to attach to them conditions such as the hon. Member suggests.