AGY-4570 | Committee for the Re-organisation of the Nursing Profession

Full description

The Committee for the Re-organisation of the Nursing Profession was established to investigate the shortage of nurses and the reasons for nurses leaving the profession. The Committee held its first meeting on 19 May 1943.(1) At the time of the Committee’s appointment, there was considerable press coverage on the issue of nurse shortages, a situation made worse by the war.

The Committee consisted chiefly of doctors and senior nurses with a person from the Hospitals Commission as Deputy Chairman. The Committee was to examine and suggest improvements in working conditions, training and recruitment(2) and three sub-committees were subsequently formed to examine these areas. The Minister for Health suggested the Committee review the questions of increased remuneration, shorter hours and reduction of entry age from 18 to 17 years.

The Minister for Health, as Chairman of the Committee, informed members that the Committee would be known as the Committee of Investigation – Nursing Profession but after concerns from members over the term “Investigation”, it was decided the Committee would be titled the Committee for the Re-organisation of the Nursing Profession.(3)
A Special Sub-committee was appointed for the co-ordination and future development of recommendations of other Sub-committees. The Special Sub-committee held its first meeting on 22 September 1943 and its special function was the drawing up of a plan to regulate the machinery for raising the status of nurses and the nursing profession generally and submit a report for consideration of the Committee.(4)

The First Report of the Committee for the Re-organisation of the Nursing Profession was presented to the Minister for Health on 5 November 1943. The Report recommended the establishment of preliminary training schools for girls aged 17 years to count towards the four year nursing course; financial assistance and payment of allowances; increased salaries; improved conditions and accommodation; introduction of a superannuation scheme and bonuses after five years service.(5)

By November 1944, the Committee for the Re-organisation of the Nursing Profession adopted its Final Report for submission to the Minister for Health. The final meeting of the Committee was held on 16 November 1944 with the Deputy Chairman thanking Committee members for their contributions.(6)


ENDNOTES
1. Minutes of the Committee for Re-organisation of the Nursing Profession, 19 May 1943, State Records reference 6/4489.
2. Concise Guide the State Archives (H – K): Health, K.Councils, Boards and Committees, h. Committeee for the Re-organisation of the Nursing Profession.
3. Minutes of the Committee for Re-organisation of the Nursing Profession, 19 May 1943, State Records reference 6/4489.
4. Minutes of the Committee for Re-organisation of the Nursing Profession, 22 September 1943, State Records reference 6/4489.
5. The Sun, 5 November 1943, p3, in Press Cuttings, State Records reference 6/4490, p53.
6. Minutes of the Committee for Re-organisation of the Nursing Profession, 16 November 1944, State Records reference 6/4489.