§ 118. Mr. Turner-Samuelsasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that it is a tradition that hospitals should care for the health of their staff, especially of nurses whose occupation is of the nature of a vocation and who are expected to put the care of patients before the strict interpretation of terms of service; and if he will therefore withdraw the instruction of his Department contained in Circular H.M.C. (52) 52 that nursing staff of hospitals, whether resident or not, shall be charged the fee of 1s. for prescriptions made up in the hospital pharmacy unless they are in-patients of the hospital.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodWhile I certainly do not wish to discourage the proper care of the health of nursing staffs, I am not satisfied that the payment of this charge, which is payable by all other members of the community in similar circumstances, has this effect or that it would be justifiable to make an exception in their case.
§ 125. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Health what welfare provisions are being made for the staffs of hospitals, particularly with reference to the nursing profession.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodStaff welfare is essentially a matter for each individual hospital authority and one that is particularly suitable for consideration by the staff consultative committees which the authorities have been asked to set up. Advice has also been given to them on the supervision of the health of nurses, and I am sending the hon. Member copies of the relevant circulars.