asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that nurses are being worked continuously on night duty for years in public institutions with disastrous effects on the health of these young women and on the efficiency of their nursing; and if he will make provision for the proper regulation of the periods of duty for night nurses in such institutions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nurses' Hours of Duty.
The control of nursing services in public institutions rests with the local bodies, who act on the advice of the medical officers of the institutions, and I am not aware that it is a general practice to keep nurses engaged continuously on night duty. Very few representations have been made to the Department in the matter. In some cases that have come to the notice of the Department representations were made to the local authorities concerned to review the arrangements in force so as to ensure that nurses would be given alternate periods on day and night duty.