asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware of onerous restrictions imposed on the leisure time of student nurses by the authorities in training hospitals and that in some centres student nurses aged 19 and 20 are expected to return before 11 p.m.; whether he has had any discussions on this matter with hospital authorities in an effort to bring such rules to an end.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Student Nurses.
25.
My Department have issued recommendations about the working conditions of trainee nurses to all hospital authorities concerned including the question of restriction on students during off-duty hours. The authorities were asked to allow them the maximum freedom consistent, of course, with their ages, the expressed wish of their parents and the need for adequate rest to preserve their health. In particular they were asked to review the hours at which trainee nurses are required to return to the nurses' home after being off-duty. It was also indicated that they should be afforded facilities to stay out late on special occasions, for example, late night dances. The detailed application of these recommendations is a matter primarily for the health or hospital boards concerned.
Would the Minister not agree that the health of these young women is robust enough to withstand being out after 11 o'clock on most week nights? In view of the fact that the nursing service as a whole talks about the difficulty of getting recruits and so on, would the Minister not agree that Victorian regulations which suggest that young women in the nursing service, who have entered that service as a vocation — it is a service that calls for a vocational instinct at any rate—should not be permitted to have longer leisure hours are not the best way to get suitable recruits for the nursing service?
There is less difficulty in securing recruits at present because of the improvements in the conditions of the service. I have received very few complaints about this matter. I have asked every hospital to establish a staff committee on which nurses will be represented to discuss their grievances. As I have had very few complaints, I do not propose to go beyond the issue of the circular which made the position absolutely clear. I do not think the situation warrants my taking any action. I believe that the Irish Nurses' Organisation are quite capable of dealing with this matter.
Are student nurses represented on the committee?
That is a matter for decision by the body concerned.
Does the Minister think it desirable that they should be?
Probably they should be represented.
Does the Minister recollect about 12 months ago when I had a similar question down to him telling me that the student nurses had the right to make representations to certain senior members of the staff if they were dissatisfied with their conditions? He may remember that I commented that they would be very reluctant to make representations to somebody who would bite the nose off them. The Minister took steps in at least one hospital here in town to have the matter rectified. Perhaps he would now send a reminder to the hospitals that they should treat the nurses as adults and not as children.
I think I should prefer to do this by discussing it with the Irish Nurses' Organisation. I meet the Irish Nurses' Organisation on general matters at intervals. If they feel that I should issue another circular encouraging those hospitals to have the right kind of staff relations with nurses and student nurses I would be very glad to make representations to the hospitals concerned.