asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is now in a position to state the result of the consideration given by his Department to the views put forward by the deputation representing nurses' organisations which he received on 18th October, 1943, and, in particular, whether he has taken any positive steps to bring about remedies for the various grievances then discussed.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nurses' Grievances.
Since receiving the deputation I have circularised local authorities in the matter and proposals for increased remuneration for permanent nurses have been sanctioned in three counties and for midwives in two counties. Proposals for improved scales of salary for midwives in four other counties are at present under consideration. I also informed nursing associations that they should submit statements of complaints which they desired me to take up with particular local authorities. I also invited them to make representations on behalf of nurses whose salaries appeared to be below the average salaries paid to nurses in similar posts in the same or other similar institutions, and to make similar representations on behalf of midwives. On 30th November I requested them to submit their separate complaints so far as possible simultaneously in order that they might be considered comprehensively for the whole country. It is understood that the nurses' organisation has issued a questionnaire to its members with a view to eliciting the necessary data for such a submission.