No. 83/1942:

DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (GENERAL REGULATIONS) ORDER, 1942.

DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (GENERAL REGULATIONS) ORDER, 1942.

ARRANGEMENT OF ARTICLES.

DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT, 1939.

THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (GENERAL REGULATIONS) ORDER, 1942.

The Minister for Local Government and Public Health in exercise of the powers vested in him by the Public Assistance Act, 1939 , and the Local Government Act, 1941 , and of all other powers in this behalf enabling him, does by this his Order make the regulations hereinafter appearing and does hereby order and declare as follows, that is to say—

PRELIMINARY.

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Public Assistance (General Regulations) Order, 1942.

(2). This Order shall come into operation on the commencement of the Public Assistance Act, 1939 .

2. (1) In this Order unless the context otherwise requires : the word " Minister " means the Minister for Local Government and Public Health ;

the expression " county hospital " includes any district institution maintained by a public assistance authority as a central hospital ;

the expression " district hospital " means a district institution being a hospital other than a county hospital ;

the expression " prescribed " means prescribed by the Minister ; and

the expression " medical officer of the district institution " means and includes the medical officer of a county home ; the surgeon of a county hospital ; the physician of a county hospital, and the medical officer of a district hospital and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.

(2) A reference in this Order to an officer in relation to any function shall be construed to include a person authorised to discharge and discharging such function during the absence or inability to act of such officer.

GENERAL.

3. The provisions of any Order made by the Minister and in force immediately before the commencement of this Order in relation to any specified institution under a particular county scheme authority which becomes a district institution under the Public Assistance Act, 1939 , shall, in so far as such Order declares the number and kind of the officers to be appointed for such institution and prescribes the duties of such officers, continue in force as if made under the enactments under which this Order is made.

4. Where in this Order any book, record, report or other document is directed to be kept or made by an officer of a public assistance authority, but not in a prescribed form, such book, record, report or document shall be kept or made in such form as the public assistance authority shall determine.

5. In every case in which an application is made for assistance other than medical assistance in a dispensary district :—

(1) particulars of the case shall be recorded in a separate document (in this Order referred to as "the case-paper ") which shall be filled up by the assistance officer and shall contain all available information relating to such matters as may be directed by the public assistance authority and to the several matters following, that is to say—

(a) name, age, address and condition as to marriage of—

(i) applicant,

(ii) members of applicant's family resident with him and dependent on him for support ;

(iii) relatives liable to contribute ;

(b) date, nature and cause of application ;

(c) particulars as to home of applicant ;

(d) length of applicant's residence in the area ;

(e) occupation, earnings, and other income of—

(i) applicant,

(ii) members of applicant's family and relatives residing with applicant,

(iii) other relatives liable to contribute ;

(2) the case-paper shall be laid before the public assistance authority on each occasion on which the case is considered by it. the information contained therein having first been verified and brought up to date ;

(3) particulars of any assistance afforded, and any decision of the public assistance authority on the case, shall be noted on the case-paper.

6. Every assistance officer of a public assistance authority shall be an authorised person for the purposes of affording assistance in cases of urgent necessity under section 20 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939 .

7. An authorised person shall not give home assistance to any person in case of urgent necessity under section 20 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939 , otherwise than by affording such person temporary assistance in food, fuel or other articles of absolute necessity, or by the provision of temporary lodging.

8. Home assistance shall be administered not less frequently than once a week.

9. (1) Save as otherwise provided by this article, an order of a public assistance authority for the granting of home assistance shall not be made for a period exceeding one month.

(2) A public assistance authority may, from time to time, in any case in which it is satisfied that the need for home assistance continues, extend the period for which home assistance may be given under any order made by it, without requiring renewed application for such assistance, but the period for which any such extension shall be given shall not exceed one month.

(3) Where a public assistance authority is satisfied that a person eligible for assistance is—

(a) permanently disabled by infirmity of mind or body from maintaining himself and his dependants ; or

(b) disabled by infirmity arising from old age from maintaining himself and his dependants ;

an order of the public assistance authority for the granting of home assistance may, in any such case, be made for such period as the public assistance authority may think proper, but any such order shall be re-considered by the public assistance authority not less frequently than once in every three months.

10. Home assistance shall not be allowed by a public assistance authority to any able-bodied person who is regularly employed for wages or hire.

11. Article 10 of this Order shall not apply to—

(i) a person receiving home assistance on account of any sickness, accident or bodily or mental infirmity affecting such person or any of his family dependent on him for support ; or

(ii) a widow with one child or more dependent upon her.

CHILDREN.

12. The maximum age up to which a child may be placed out at nurse or boarded out by a public assistance authority shall be sixteen.

13. A child may be placed out at nurse or boarded out by a public assistance authority either within or without the limits of the public assistance district of such authority.

14. A public assistance authority shall not place out at nurse or board out any child unless the authority is satisfied by a certificate of a medical officer of the authority as to its bodily health and mental condition and suitability for placing out at nurse or boarding out.

15. A public assistance authority shall in placing out at nurse or boarding out a child comply with the following requirements :—

(1) the person (hereinafter referred to as " the foster parent ") with whom the child is to be placed out at nurse or boarded out shall, before receiving the child, be required to enter into a contract with the public assistance authority in the form set forth in the Schedule to this Order binding such foster parent to observe all the conditions therein contained so long as the child shall continue to be placed out at nurse or boarded out with such foster parent ;

(2) before the signing of the contract the public assistance authority shall—

(a) require the proposed foster parent to produce a written recommendation signed by some clergyman, peace commissioner, member of the public assistance authority or medical officer of a public assistance authority residing in the neighbourhood of the proposed foster parent, who may be willing to answer for his good conduct and respectability ;

(b) be satisfied by the report and personal inspection of one of its officers that the dwelling house of the proposed foster parent is in a healthy situation and otherwise suitable ; that the house contains more than one room, and admits of the sexes being completely separated; that a supply of pure and wholesome drinking water is at all times readily accessible to the inmates of the house; that good food and milk are easily obtainable; that there is a suitable national or other public school at a convenient distance from the house; and that the house is one which otherwise complies with this Order;

(c) arrange, if necessary, for the child to be escorted by a suitable person to the home of the foster parent.

16. A public assistance authority shall not place out at nurse or board out any child—

(a) in any house, unless there is a woman living there who is of full age and has experience in the management of children;

(b) with any person occupying or residing in a house or premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors by retail;

(c) in any house in which is resident a person suffering from tuberculosis or other disease likely to be prejudicial to the health of the child;

(d) with any person with whom children are placed out at nurse or boarded out by any person other than the public assistance authority; or

(e) in any house situate in a town or village unless the Minister so consents.

17. The number of children who may be placed out at nurse or boarded out by a public assistance authority with one foster parent shall not exceed two unless all the children so placed out at nurse or boarded out are of the same family or unless in any particular case the Minister otherwise directs.

18. The clothes to be provided for any child placed out at nurse or boarded out by a public assistance authority shall not be of such shape or colour as to indicate connection with any institution, or to denote that the child is in receipt of assistance from the public assistance authority.

19. The name of the child together with the other particulars required by any Order of the Minister for the time being in force shall be placed on the home assistance register and on the home assistance list, and the sums expended in the assistance of all such cases shall be entered like other sums expended in home assistance in the assistance officer's expenditure book, and the expenses of assisting such a child, of conveying it to and from the home to a district institution or from one home to another, and of its burial in case of death, shall be charged under the head of home assistance, and entered in the accounts of the public assistance authority accordingly.

20. A public assistance authority shall not send any child to a certified school unless the authority is satisfied that such child cannot suitably and adequately be assisted by being boarded out.

21. The minimum age at which children may be placed by a public assistance authority at service or in a trade, calling or business shall be fifteen.

22. (1) For the purpose of assuring itself of the welfare of children in its charge, a public assistance authority—

(a) in the case of children placed by the authority out at nurse or boarded out, shall, unless the authority, with the approval of the Minister, otherwise determines, arrange for the visiting of such children at intervals of not less often than once in each calendar month ;

(b) in the case of children placed by the authority at service or in a trade, calling, or business, shall, unless the authority otherwise determines, arrange for the visiting of such children at such intervals as the authority shall fix.

(2) The visiting of children under this article shall be carried out by such suitable officer of the public assistance authority as the authority shall appoint for the purpose.

(3) The officer of a public assistance authority by whom a child is visited under this article shall furnish to the public assistance authority a report in writing of the result of any such visit.

DISTRICT INSTITUTIONS.

23. (1) Every person eligible for public assistance who shall be admitted into a district institution as an inmate shall be admitted in one of the following modes only, that is to say :—

(a) by an order of admission given by the public assistance authority signed by an authorised officer of the authority;

(b) by an order of admission signed by a person who is an authorised person for the purpose of section 20 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939 ;

(c) by the matron or head nurse of the institution as the case may be :—

(i) without an order, in any case of sudden or urgent necessity, on the direction of the medical officer of the institution or, in his absence, without such direction; or in pursuance of any enactment;

(ii) where the person is transferred from another district institution of the public assistance authority, on the order of the officer in charge of that institution, accompanied, if such institution is a hospital, by a certificate of the medical officer of the institution;

(iii) in pursuance of an agreement with another public assistance authority.

(2) Every order of admission shall specify the name and address of the person to be admitted, his age, address, calling (if any) and religious creed, and the name and address of his nearest known relation or friend.

24. No person eligible for public assistance shall be admitted to a district institution under any order as mentioned in article 23 of this Order, dated more than three days before the date on which such person presents it at the institution.

25. If a person eligible for public assistance be admitted to any district institution in any other than the first of the modes mentioned in article 23 of this Order, the admission of such person shall be notified forthwith to the public assistance authority who shall decide on the propriety of permitting the person to continue in the district institution or otherwise, and order accordingly.

26. (1) A person eligible for assistance who is admitted as an inmate to a district institution—

(a) shall not bring into the institution any intoxicating liquors or any other articles the introduction of which into the institution is forbidden by the public assistance authority or the medical officer of the institution;

(b) shall, if circumstances so require and permit, before being placed in the appropriate part of the institution, be thoroughly cleansed, unless the medical officer of the institution otherwise directs, and be suitably clothed;

(c) shall, as soon as practicable after admission, be examined by the medical officer of the Institution;

(d) may, if the matron or head nurse of the institution so thinks proper, be kept separately in some place apart from other inmates of the institution, until examined by the medical officer of the institution;

(e) shall deliver up his clothing and other articles in his possession, if so required by the matron or head nurse of the institution, for the purpose of having the same cleansed and, if necessary, disinfected or, if fit only for destruction, for the purpose of being destroyed.

27. If the medical officer of a district institution, other than a hospital, finds, on examination of any inmate thereof, that such inmate is suffering from bodily or mental disease, he shall, as the case may require, cause such inmate to be placed in the appropriate ward of the institution or to be transferred to a suitable hospital of the public assistance authority or other suitable institution available for his reception.

28. An inmate of a district institution may, if the matron or head nurse of the institution so approves, be permitted whilst an inmate of the institution to wear or use any clothing or other articles belonging to him.

29. Where any clothing or other articles taken from an inmate of a district institution are not restored to him for use whilst an inmate they shall be labelled and placed in a suitable place for restoration to him on his discharge, and a record thereof shall be kept.

30. If the clothes of an inmate of a district institution are not restored to him on his discharge, the public assistance authority shall provide him with suitable and sufficient clothing.

31. A person eligible for public assistance may, if the matron or head nurse of the institution, as the case may be, so directs, upon his admission into a district institution, or on his return after a temporary leave of absence, in pursuance of article 37 of this Order, be searched by or under the inspection of such officer of the institution as the matron or head nurse may designate for the purpose and any intoxicating liquor or any other article the introduction of which into the institution is prohibited by the public assistance authority or the medical officer of the district institution, which may be found upon his person, shall be taken from him.

32. A public assistance authority shall classify the inmates of a district institution other than a hospital, in such manner as the authority shall think proper, and shall assign to each class suitable accommodation.

33. A public assistance authority may fix certain days on which inmates of any district institution may, with the permission of the matron or head nurse of the institution, be visited by relatives and friends and may prescribe the hours during which such visits may take place: provided that in the case of a district institution which is a hospital such visits shall not be allowed unless sanctioned by the medical officer of the hospital.

34. When a patient in a district institution which is a hospital is detained therein for a period of over two months, the medical officer of the hospital shall furnish a special report to the public assistance authority explaining the necessity for such detention and a further report at the expiration of each subsequent month during which the patient may be so detained and the public assistance authority shall cause a copy of every such report to be transmitted to the Minister.

35. A person eligible for assistance may, subject to the provisions of any statute, take his discharge from any district institution not being a hospital after giving reasonable notice to the matron thereof or in the case of a hospital, to the medical officer thereof, of his wish so to do.

36. The medical officer of a district institution which is a hospital, shall discharge any person eligible for public assistance who is an inmate thereof when such person has recovered, or, in the opinion of the medical officer, is no longer susceptible of treatment therein, but if in the latter case, the person can be suitably treated in another hospital of the public assistance authority or other institution available for his reception, arrangements shall be made by the matron or head nurse, as the case may be, if so directed by the medical officer, for his admission thereto.

37. The matron or head nurse of a district institution, as the case may be, may, subject to any restrictions that the public assistance authority may impose, grant temporary leave of absence to any inmate of the institution, and may for that purpose dispense with the provisions of articles 23 and 35 of this Order.

38. The inmates of a district institution other than a hospital shall in so far as suitable employment can be provided for them, be kept employed according to their capacity and ability, but no inmate shall work on his own account or on account of any party other than the public assistance authority; and no inmate shall receive any remuneration for such work.

39. The dieting of the inmates of any district institution other than a hospital shall be in accordance with a scale approved of by the Minister; provided that the medical officer of the institution may in the case of any sick inmate direct, in writing, such diet as he shall deem necessary.

40. (1) A public assistance authority shall make appropriate arrangements for the performance of religious services in every district institution and for the administration of religious instruction to the inmates thereof and shall for that purpose consult with the chaplain or chaplains of the district institution.

(2) No person, not being an officer or inmate of a district institution, shall be permitted to attend any religious service held in a district institution for the inmates thereof.

41. A public assistance authority shall keep in good and substantial repair the premises and fixtures of every district institution, and shall from time to time remedy without delay any such defect in the repair of such institution, its drainage, warmth or ventilation, or in the furniture or fixtures thereof, as may tend to injure the health of the inmates.

42. A public assistance authority shall insure and keep insured the premises of any district institution against any loss or damage by fire, for such a sum as shall be reasonably sufficient to cover any probable loss in such manner as the authority shall determine.

OFFICERS.

43. (1) A public assistance authority shall appoint suitable persons to hold the following offices and to perform the duties specified in any declaration of the Minister for the time being in force defining the duties of holders thereof or which may be assigned to them by the public assistance authority:—

(a) For a county hospital—

(i) surgeon of the county hospital;

(ii) physician of the county hospital;

(iii) matron of the county hospital;

(iv) resident medical officer of the county hospital (unless the Minister shall, in any case, otherwise direct).

(b) For a district hospital—

(i) medical officer of the district hospital;

(ii) head nurse of the district hospital.

(c) For a county home—

(i) medical officer of the county home;

(ii) matron of the county home;

(iii) porter of the county home;

and shall appoint such number of suitable persons to act as assistants to the said several officers as the public assistance authority with the approval of the Minister, shall deem necessary for the efficient discharge of their duties.

(2) The offices under a county scheme authority of medical officer and surgeon of the county hospital and visiting physician of the county hospital shall, if such hospital becomes, as such, a district institution under the Public Assistance Act, 1939 , be respectively known as surgeon of the county hospital and physician of the county hospital.

(3) A public assistance authority shall appoint such number of suitable persons to hold the office of superintendent assistance officer and such number of suitable persons to hold the office of assistance officer, as the Minister shall from time to time approve or direct, to perform respectively the duties specified in any declaration of the Minister for the time being in force defining the duties of the holders thereof or which may be assigned to them by the public assistance authority and the public assistance authority shall assign to each such officer such district as the Minister shall from time to time approve or direct.

(4) A public assistance authority shall appoint such number of suitable persons to be nurses as the Minister may from time to time direct or approve, to assist the matron or head nurse, as the case may be, of a district institution, in the performance of her duties and generally in the nursing and care of the sick in such institution, and to perform the duties specified in any declaration of the Minister for the time being in force defining the duties of such nurses or which may be assigned to them by the public assistance authority.

(5) A public assistance authority shall for each district institution appoint such number of suitable persons to be wardsmaids and attendants as the Minister shall from time to time direct or approve for the discharge of minor and subordinate duties in or about such district institution.

(6) If in any emergency it appears to the medical officer of a district institution that the temporary employment of one or more nurses or wardsmaids or attendants is requisite for the proper treatment of any inmate or inmates of such institution and if he so informs the matron of such institution or in the case of a district hospital the head nurse, it shall be the duty of the matron or head nurse, as the case may be, to employ a suitable person or persons to act temporarily as such pending the directions of the public assistance authority in that behalf, and the public assistance authority shall pay to any person so employed such reasonable remuneration and expenses as the authority may determine. The medical officer shall, when communicating with the matron or head nurse, report at the same time the facts of the case fully in writing to the public assistance authority.

(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this article a public assistance authority may in any case where it is necessary owing to an increase in the number of inmates of a district institution or other sufficient reason appoint temporarily such and so many nurses and wardsmaids and attendants as the public assistance authority may determine who shall hold office for such period, as the public assistance authority may determine, and be paid such reasonable remuneration as the public assistance authority may fix.

(8) No person shall be appointed to any of the offices mentioned in sub-section (1) of this article or to the office of nurse in a district institution under this Order who will not agree to give one month's notice previous to resigning the office, or in default to forfeit one month's amount of salary, to be deducted, as liquidated damages from the amount of salary due at the time of such resignation.

(9) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of sub-section (2) of section 58 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, the prescribed qualifications of a trained nurse shall be that either—

(a) the name of such nurse has been after the 31st day of July, 1925, registered as a result of an examination in the general part of the Register of Nurses kept by the General Nursing Council, and continues to be so registered, or

(b) such nurse has before the 31st day of July, 1925, resided for a period of not less than two years in a general clinical or other hospital recognised for this purpose by the Minister and has before the said 31st day of July, 1925, obtained from the authorities of such hospital as a result of an examination, a certificate of proficiency in nursing.

44. (1) Unless the Minister shall otherwise approve or direct, every person appointed to or holding the office of surgeon of a county hospital shall devote the whole of his time to the duties of his office save and in so far as he may act as consultant to medical practitioners in surgical cases within his public assistance district or any adjoining public assistance district.

(2) Every person appointed to or holding the office of superintendent assistance officer shall, unless the Minister shall otherwise approve or direct, be required to devote the whole of his time to the duties of his office.

45. (1) Whenever in the course of his attendance upon the inmates of a district institution, a case arises which, in the opinion of the medical officer of the district institution, necessitates his obtaining the assistance of another medical practitioner, the medical officer may, on his own authority, summon the assistance of such other medical practitioner and shall thereupon, report fully in writing the circumstances to the public assistance authority.

(2) If the public assistance authority on consideration of the report of the medical officer, is satisfied that the employment by the medical officer of the district institution of such other medical practitioner as aforesaid was necessary, the public assistance authority shall allow payment of a fee to such medical practitioner not exceeding the appropriate fee prescribed by the scale referred to in sub-article (3) hereof either by way of refund to the medical officer, if such fee has been paid by him, or otherwise.

(3) A public assistance authority shall, subject to the approval of the Minister, fix a scale of the fees to be allowed by them under this article for the rendering of assistance by a medical practitioner both in the day time and at night and a copy of such scale shall be furnished by the authority to the medical officer of each district institution.

(4) Any dispute which shall arise as to whether the summoning of a medical practitioner by the medical officer of a district institution was necessary or as to the amount of the fee payable to such medical practitioner under this article shall be determined by the Minister whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

46. No officer of a public assistance authority shall demand, receive, or accept any fee or payment for his services from any person in receipt of public assistance.

47. (1) An officer of a public assistance authority who has been removed from office by the Minister or by the public assistance authority, shall, as soon as may be after such removal, vacate any apartments assigned to him for his accommodation in a district institution and depart from such institution.

(2) An officer of a public assistance authority who has been suspended from the performance of his duties shall, during the continuance of such suspension, refrain from any interference with or obstruction of the management of any district institution.

DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

48. The duties of the surgeon of a county hospital shall be:—

(1) To attend at the hospital daily and not later than ten o'clock a.m. and also when sent for by the matron or other responsible officer of the hospital, in any case of sudden emergency, and at all such other times as the state of the patients may render necessary.

(2) To enter on the occasion of each attendance for duty at the hospital his name in a book to be provided for that purpose, by the public assistance authority, together with the time of his arrival and the time of his departure.

(3) To examine the state of all surgical cases on admission to the hospital and to decide whether the cases are suitable for treatment therein.

(4) To attend all surgical cases in the hospital and see that they receive such surgical treatment and advice and assistance as may be necessary.

(5) To perform all such surgical operations as may be proper to be performed by him in the hospital.

(6) To give all necessary directions as to the classification of patients in the hospital.

(7) To give all necessary directions as to the diet, treatment and nursing of the surgical cases in the hospital.

(8) To enter all directions given by him in regard to the classification, diet, treatment and nursing of patients in the hospital in a book or books to be provided for the purpose by the public assistance authority.

(9) To see that a bed card and case sheet in the prescribed form is provided for each patient in the hospital and that the required particulars are duly and properly entered thereon, and that all such cards, when completed, are preserved with the records of the hospital for a period of at least twelve months.

(10) To act, if required, as consultant to the medical officer of any district institution in regard to any patient therein and in case of emergency, if the patient is unfit for removal to the county hospital, to perform therein, if practicable, any necessary surgical operation.

(11) On the occurrence in the hospital of any case of infectious or suspected infectious disease, to take, in conjunction with the physician of the hospital, all such steps as may be necessary to prevent the spread of the disease.

(12) To inform the tuberculosis officer of the local authority under the Tuberculosis (Ireland) Acts, 1908 and 1913, of every case of surgical tuberculosis in the hospital, and to furnish him with such particulars as he may require in regard to each such patient.

(13) To prepare and submit to the public assistance authority from time to time as may be necessary, but not less frequently than once in three months, a requisition in duplicate in the prescribed form, of the drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances in the prescribed lists required for use in the hospital.

(14) To prepare from time to time as may be necessary and submit to the public assistance authority, requisitions for such drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances not contained in the prescribed lists, but required for use in the hospital and to explain in the case of each such article requisitioned why none of the articles or preparations in the prescribed lists would meet the requirements of the hospital.

(15) To arrange for the return to the contractors of all drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances not of good quality or of the quality and sort contracted for or requisitioned.

(16) To make satisfactory arrangements for the sending, as soon as reasonably may be, to the public assistance authority for transmission to the analyst for analysis, according to the requirements of the Minister, samples of the drugs and medicines supplied to the hospital in compliance with each requisition made by him.

(17) To make satisfactory arrangements for the receipt, care, and issue, as required, of drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances.

(18) To supervise the general hygienic and sanitary conditions of the hospital.

(19) To assist the matron in enforcing order, punctuality and cleanliness and the due observance of the prescribed regulations by the patients in the hospital and by the subordinate officers and servants thereof, and the performance by the latter of their respective duties, and to report any neglect or failure which he may observe in this respect to the matron.

(20) To keep all books or records which he may be required to keep by any order or direction of the Minister or by the public assistance authority, and to allow the same to be open to the inspection of the public assistance authority and of any authorised officer of the Minister and submit the same to the public assistance authority and such officer, as and when required.

(21) To give to the public assistance authority or the Minister, when required, any reasonable information respecting the case of any patient who is or has been under his care in the hospital.

(22) To report to the public assistance authority immediately, as and when occasion arises:—

(a) any matter affecting the health of the patients;

(b) any defect in the drainage, ventilation, heating or other arrangements of the hospital; and

(c) any defect in the nursing or attendance of the patients or in the supply of medical and surgical requirements.

(23) To offer suggestions to the public assistance authority for the correction of abuses and the introduction of improvements in the management of the hospital.

(24) To attend the meetings of the public assistance authority when so requested by the manager for the public assistance authority.

(25) To perform such other duties appropriate to his office as may be assigned to him by the public assistance authority with the consent of the Minister.

49. The duties of the physician of a county hospital shall be:—

(1) To attend at the hospital daily not later than ten o'clock a.m. or at such other hour as may be fixed by the public assistance authority, with the consent of the Minister, and to remain in attendance thereat so long as his services are required.

(2) To attend at the hospital whenever sent for by the matron or other responsible officer in any case of sudden emergency, and also at all such other times as the state of the patients in his charge may render necessary.

(3) To enter on the occasion of each attendance for duty at the hospital his name in the book provided for the purpose, together with the time of his arrival and the time of his departure.

(4) To attend all patients in the medical or maternity departments of the hospital, or in any ante-natal clinic which may be established in or attached to the hospital at any time.

(5) To take steps to secure that every patient of whom he is in charge shall receive due and proper care and attention and any treatment necessary which is available in the hospital.

(6) If any patient of whom he is in charge requires any special treatment which is not available in the hospital, to furnish a report in writing of the case to the surgeon of the hospital for submission to the public assistance authority.

(7) To give all necessary directions as to the diet, classification, treatment and nursing of the patients in his charge.

(8) To enter all directions given by him in regard to the diet, classification, treatment and nursing of patients in his charge in a book or books to be provided for the purpose by the public assistance authority.

(9) Whenever so required by the surgeon of the hospital, to assist at operations in the hospital and, when the resident medical officer is absent, or if there be no resident medical officer, to administer anæsthetics.

(10) When so required, to take part in consultations with any member or members of the medical staff of the hospital, concerning any patient in the hospital.

(11) To see that the required particulars are duly and properly entered on the bed-card of each patient of whom he is in charge.

(12) To record particulars of the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for any patient of whom he is in charge on the case sheet of the patient.

(13) In cases of infectious or suspected infectious disease—

(i) to inform the county medical officer of health forthwith of the occurrence of any such case in the hospital and to furnish such medical officer with such particulars as he may require in regard to such case ;

(ii) to take in conjunction with the surgeon of the hospital all such steps as may be necessary to prevent the spread of the disease.

(14) To inform the tuberculosis officer of the local authority under the Tuberculosis (Ireland) Acts, 1908 and 1913, of every case of non-surgical tuberculosis in the hospital and to furnish him with such particulars as he may require in regard to each such case.

(15) To prepare and submit to the surgeon of the hospital from time to time as may be necessary, but not less frequently than once in three months, a requisition in duplicate, in the prescribed form, of the drugs, medicines and medical appliances in the prescribed lists required by him for use in the hospital.

(16) To prepare and submit to the surgeon of the hospital, from time to time as may be necessary, requisitions for such drugs, medicines and medical appliances not specified in the prescribed lists but required by him for use in the hospital and to explain in the case of each such article so requisitioned why none of the articles in the prescribed lists would meet his requirements.

(17) To examine at least once in each week, and also when requested by the matron or other responsible officer of the hospital, the milk, meat and other provisions supplied for use in the hospital and to report in writing any defect in the same to the public assistance authority.

(18) To keep all books or records which he may be required to keep by any order or direction of the Minister or by the public assistance authority and to allow the same to be open to the inspection of the public assistance authority, and of any authorised officer of the Minister and to submit the same to the public assistance authority and any such officer when required.

(19) To give to the public assistance authority or the Minister when required, any reasonable information respecting the case of any patient who is or has been under his care in the hospital.

(20) To report to the surgeon of the hospital immediately, as and when occasion arises :—

(a) any matter affecting the health of the patients ;

(b) any defect in the drainage, ventilation, beating or other arrangements in the hospital ; and

(c) any defect in the nursing or attendance of the patients or in the supply of medical requirements.

(21) To attend the meetings of the public assistance authority when so required by the manager for the public assistance authority.

(22) To perform such other duties appropriate to his office as may be assigned to him by the public assistance authority with the consent of the Minister.

50. The duties of the medical officer of a district hospital shall be :—

(1) To attend at the hospital daily and not later than ten o'clock a.m. and also when sent for by the head nurse or other responsible officer of the hospital, in any case of emergency, and at all such other times as the state of the patients may render necessary.

(2) To enter on the occasion of each attendance for duty at the hospital his name in a book to be provided for that purpose, by the public assistance authority, together with the time of his arrival and the time of his departure.

(3) To examine the state of all patients on admission to the hospital and to decide whether the cases are suitable for treatment therein.

(4) To be responsible to the public assistance authority for the due and proper medical and surgical treatment of all patients admitted to the hospital.

(5) To attend all patients in the hospital and see that they receive such medical treatment, advice and assistance as may be necessary.

(6) To perform in the hospital all such minor surgical operations as may be proper to be performed therein and not to perform therein any major surgical operations unless the hospital is one which has been approved of by the Minister as suitable for the performance therein of major surgical operations.

(7) To cause to be removed to the county hospital, where the state of the patient so permits, any patient in the hospital whose treatment is found to require the performance of a major surgical operation unless the hospital is one which has been approved of by the Minister as suitable for the performance therein of major surgical operations and the operation is one which can properly be performed in the hospital.

(8) To give all necessary directions as to the diet, classification, treatment and nursing of the patients in the hospital.

(9) To enter all directions given by him in regard to the diet, classification, treatment and nursing of patients in the hospital in a book or books to be provided for the purpose by the public assistance authority.

(10) To see that a bed card and case sheet in the prescribed form is provided for each patient in the hospital and that the required particulars are fully and properly entered thereon, and that all such cards, when completed, are preserved with the records of the hospital for a period of at least twelve months.

(11) To consult, where necessary, with the surgeon of the county hospital in regard to any patient in the district hospital and to assist the surgeon of the county hospital in the performance of any operations in the hospital.

(12) In cases of infectious or suspected infectious disease :—

(i) to inform the county medical officer of health forthwith of the occurrence of any such case in the hospital, and to furnish such medical officer with such particulars as he may require in regard to such case ;

(ii) to take all such steps as may be necessary to prevent the spread of the disease.

(13) To inform the tuberculosis officer of the local authority under the Tuberculosis (Ireland) Acts, 1908 and 1913, of every tuberculosis patient in the hospital and to furnish him with such particulars as he may require in regard to each such patient.

(14) To prepare and submit to the public assistance authority from time to time as may be necessary, but not less frequently than once in three months, a requisition in duplicate, in the prescribed form, of the drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances in the prescribed lists required by him for use in the hospital.

(15) To prepare from time to time as may be necessary and submit to the public assistance authority requisitions for such drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances not contained in the prescribed lists, but required by him for use in the hospital, and to explain in the case of each such article requisitioned by him why none of the articles or preparations in the prescribed lists would meet his requirements.

(16) To arrange for the return to the contractors of all drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances not of good quality or of the quality and sort contracted for or requisitioned.

(17) To send, as soon as reasonably may be, to the public assistance authority for transmission to the analyst for analysis, according to the requirements of the Minister, samples of the drugs and medicines supplied to the hospital in compliance with each requisition made by him.

(18) To make satisfactory arrangements for the receipt, care, and issue as required, of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances.

(19) To examine at least once in each week and also when requested by the head nurse, or other responsible officer, the milk, meat and other provisions supplied for use in the hospital and to report in writing any defect in the same to the public assistance authority.

(20) To supervise the general hygienic and sanitary conditions of the hospital.

(21) To assist the head nurse in enforcing order, punctuality and cleanliness and the due observance of the prescribed regulations by the patients in the hospital and by the subordinate officers and servants thereof, and the performance by the latter of their respective duties and to report any neglect or failure which he may observe in this respect to the head nurse.

(22) To keep all books or records which he may be required to keep by any order or direction of the Minister or by the public assistance authority and to allow the same to be open to the inspection of the public assistance authority and any authorised officer of the Minister, and to submit the same to the public assistance authority and such officer as and when required.

(23) To give to the public assistance authority or the Minister when required, any reasonable information respecting the case of any patient who is or has been under his care in the hospital.

(24) To report to the public assistance authority as and when occasion arises :—

(a) any matter affecting the health of the patients ;

(b) any defect in the drainage, ventilation, heating, or other arrangements of the hospital ; and

(c) any defect in the nursing or attendance of the patients or in the supply of medical and surgical requirements.

(25) To offer suggestions to the public assistance authority for the correction of abuses and the introduction of improvements in the management of the hospital.

(26) To attend the meetings of the public assistance authority when so requested by the manager for the public assistance authority.

(27) To perform such other duties appropriate to his office as may be assigned to him by the public assistance authority with the consent of the Minister.

51. The duties of the resident medical officer of a county hospital shall be :—

(1) To reside in such part of the hospital as shall be assigned to him by the public assistance authority.

(2) To take charge of all patients on their admission to the hospital and to assign them to their proper wards pending examination by the surgeon or the physician of the hospital, as the case may require.

(3) To visit the several wards of the hospital at least twice daily and at such other times as the due performance of his duties may require, and to report to the surgeon or physician of the hospital, as the case may require, any condition of a patient or other matter affecting the hospital or the patients therein, which he considers requires attention.

(4) To attend at the hospital in any case of sudden emergency when sent for by the matron or other responsible officer.

(5) To administer anæsthetics in the hospital whenever so required by the surgeon of the hospital.

(6) In case of urgency or sudden emergency, to send at once for the surgeon of the hospital or the physician of the hospital, as the case may require.

(7) Generally to assist the surgeon of the hospital and the physician of the hospital in the performance of their respective duties and to observe and execute all such orders and directions as may be given by the surgeon or physician of the hospital, as the case may be, applicable to his office.

(8) To perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the public assistance authority with the consent of the Minister.

52. The duties of the medical officer of a county home shall be :—

(1) To be responsible to the public assistance authority for the due and proper medical treatment of all sick inmates of the home.

(2) To attend at the home daily and not later than twelve o'clock noon, and also when sent for by the matron or other responsible officer of the home in cases of sudden illness, accident or other emergency, and at all such other times as the state of the inmates may render necessary.

(3) To enter on the occasion of each attendance for duty at the home his name in a book to be provided for that purpose, by the public assistance authority, together with the time of his arrival and the time of his departure.

(4) To examine the state of all poor persons admitted to the home, and to examine as often as may be required the state of the sick inmates of the home and of any inmates of unsound mind

(5) To give all necessary directions as to the diet, classification, treatment and nursing of the sick inmates of the home, and of the inmates (if any) of unsound mind of the home.

(6) To give all necessary directions as to the diet of such children as may be in the home.

(7) To enter appropriate particulars of the directions given by him in regard to the sick inmates, inmates of unsound mind and children in the home, in a book or books to be provided for the purpose by the public assistance authority.

(8) To see that a bed card in the prescribed form is provided in the case of each sick inmate of the home; that the required particulars are duly and properly entered thereon, and that such cards, when completed, are preserved with the records of the home for a period of at least twelve months.

(9) To vaccinate such inmates of the home as may require vaccination.

(10) To report to the public assistance authority any inmate of unsound mind whom he may deem to be dangerous.

(11) In cases of infectious or suspected infectious disease :—

(i) to inform the county medical officer of health forthwith of the occurrence of any such case in the home and to furnish such medical officer with such particulars of the case as he may require; and

(ii) to take all such steps as may be necessary to prevent the spread of the disease.

(12) To inform the tuberculosis officer of the local authority under the Tuberculosis (Ireland) Acts, 1908 and 1913, of any tuberculous inmate of the home and to furnish him with such particulars as he may require in regard to such inmate.

(13) To examine at least once in each week and also when requested by the matron, the milk, meat and other provisions supplied for use in the home and to report in writing any defect in the same to the public assistance authority.

(14) To supervise the general hygienic and sanitary conditions of the home.

(15) To prepare and submit to the public assistance authority from time to time as may be necessary, but not less frequently than once in three months, a requisition in duplicate in the prescribed form of the drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances in the prescribed lists required by him.

(16) To arrange for the return to the contractors of all drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances not of good quality or of the quality and sort contracted for or requisitioned.

(17) To make satisfactory arrangements, for the sending, as soon as reasonably may be, to the public assistance authority for transmission to the analyst for analysis, according to the requirements of the Minister, samples of the drugs and medicines supplied to the home in compliance with each requisition made by him.

(18) To make satisfactory arrangements for the receipt, care, and issue as required, of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances.

(19) To keep all books and records which he may be required to keep by any order or direction of the Minister or by the public assistance authority and to allow the same to be open to the inspection of the public assistance authority and of any authorised officer of the Minister and to submit the same to the public assistance authority and to such officer as and when required.

(20) To give to the public assistance authority when required any reasonable information respecting any inmate of the home who has been under his care.

(21) To report to the public assistance authority immediately as and when occasion arises :—

(a) any matter affecting the health of the inmates of the home ;

(b) any defect in the drainage, ventilation, heating or other arrangements of the home ; and

(c) any defect in the nursing and attendance of the inmates of the home who are sick or of unsound mind, or in the supply of medical and surgical requirements.

(22) To offer suggestions to the public assistance authority for the correction of abuses and the introduction of improvements in the management of the home.

(23) To attend the meetings of the public assistance authority when so requested by the manager for the public assistance authority.

(24) To perform such other duties appropriate to his office as the public assistance authority may assign to him with the consent of the Minister.

53. (i) The duties of the matron of a county hospital and of the head nurse of a district hospital shall be as follows :—

ADMISSION OF PATIENTS.

(1) To admit patients into the hospital in accordance with the prescribed regulations and to report to the public assistance authority the admission of a patient admitted otherwise than in pursuance of an order of the authority, and to take the directions of the authority with respect to such patient.

(2) To take charge of the clothes and other articles belonging to each patient taken from him or given into her charge on his admission to the hospital, and to deposit them when cleansed, if necessary, in a place provided for the purpose, having affixed to them a list of the several articles and the name of the patient to whom they belong.

DISCIPLINE AND SUPERVISION.

(3) To govern and control, subject to the directions of the public assistance authority, the subordinate officers and servants in the hospital and the patients therein.

(4) To report in her Journal any negligence or other misconduct on the part of any of the subordinate officers and servants of the hospital and to notify the public assistance authority immediately thereof.

(5) To take care that the hospital is kept in a proper and cleanly state.

(6) To visit the wards of the hospital daily before 11 o'clock in the forenoon of each day, and to see that such wards have all been duly cleansed and are kept properly warmed and ventilated.

(7) To inspect all the wards of the hospital daily at or before 9 o'clock in the afternoon of each day.

(8) To inspect the different departments of the hospital occasionally at night, between the hours of 9 o'clock p.m. and 6 o'clock a.m.

(9) To be responsible for the custody and issue of all pass keys in use in the hospital, and to see that they are issued only to responsible officers and not used by any person without her permission.

(10) To see that the entrance to the hospital is locked at 11 o'clock p.m. and is opened at 7 o'clock a.m. or at such other hours as may, from time to time, be fixed by the public assistance authority.

(11) To take all precautions necessary to guard against the unauthorised introduction to the hospital of any intoxicating liquors, or any other articles the introduction of which to the hospital may be forbidden by the public assistance authority or the medical officer.

CARE OF THE SICK.

(12) To bring to the special notice of the medical officer every patient as soon as possible after admission.

(13) To send for the medical officer in case any patient requires immediate attendance ; and to take care that the patients are provided with such medicines and attendance, diet and other necessaries, as the medical officer shall in writing direct and that his directions in regard to their treatment and nursing are carried out.

(14) In case of dangerous illness of any patient, to send for the chaplain or other minister of the religious denomination of the patient ; and to notify forthwith any relative or friend of the patient, whom he may desire to see.

(15) To give immediate information of the death of any patient in the hospital to the medical officer, and to the nearest relatives of the deceased who may be known to her, and if the body be not removed within a reasonable time to provide for the interment thereof.

(16) On the death of a patient, to take charge of the clothes and other articles, if any, of the deceased, and deliver an inventory of the clothes and other articles of the deceased to the public assistance authority and carry out its directions respecting the same.

(17) To take care that all necessary arrangements are made for the care and attendance upon the patients, both by day and by night ; and that no patient is left unattended at the approach of death.

(18) To inform the medical officer of any matters requiring consideration in connection with the nursing of the patients.

COOKING AND DINING ARRANGEMENTS.

(19) To superintend the cooking, and to see that the meals of the patients are duly provided, cooked, dressed, and served.

CLOTHING AND BEDDING.

(20) To see that every patient in the hospital has clean linen once at least in each week and as occasion may require.

(21) To see that the linen, beds and bedding, are kept in a clean and wholesome state.

(22) To superintend and give the necessary directions for mending any linen and clothing supplied to the patients, and to take care that all such linen and clothing be marked with the name of the hospital.

LAUNDRY.

(23) To superintend and give the necessary directions concerning the disinfecting, washing, drying and getting up of the linen, bedding and clothing, and to see that same be not dried in any ward occupied by any of the patients.

SUPPLIES AND STOCKS.

(24) To make a requisition to the public assistance authority for such articles as she may deem to be necessary, for the use of the hospital in such form as may be required by the public assistance authority.

(25) Not to purchase or procure any articles for the use of the hospital, or order any alterations or repairs of the furniture or other articles belonging thereto, without prior authorisation of the public assistance authority, except in case of urgent necessity.

(26) To order such articles as may be authorised by the public assistance authority, and to be accountable for such articles.

(27) To bring to the notice of the medical officer any provisions or other articles which she may consider not to be of approved quality; to return all articles condemned by the medical officer, and to require them to be replaced by articles of approved quality.

(28) To receive and take charge of all provisions, clothing, linen and other articles purchased or procured for the use of the hospital, or confided to her care by the public assistance authority; and to ascertain and certify the correctness of the delivery notes or invoices; to issue the same as may be required, and to see that such articles are applied to such purposes as may be authorised or approved by the public assistance authority and to no other.

(29) To submit to the public assistance authority monthly in advance, an estimate of such provisions and other articles as are required for the use of the hospital for the ensuing month, and to execute the directions of the public assistance authority thereon.

BOOKS AND RECORDS.

(30) To keep a book to be called " the Matron's Journal " or " Head Nurse's Journal ", as the case may be; to enter therein every important occurrence in the hospital, and to cause such book to be laid before the public assistance authority as occasion may require.

(31) To keep all books of accounts and records which she is or may hereafter be, by any Order of the Minister, or the public assistance authority required to keep, and to allow the same to be constantly open to the inspection of the public assistance authority, and of any authorised officer of the Minister, and to submit the same to the public assistance authority, and to any such officer, as and when required.

GENERAL.

(32) To keep the public assistance authority informed of the state of the hospital in every department.

(33) To offer suggestions to the public assistance authority for the correction of abuses and the introduction of improvements in the management of the hospital.

(34) To receive the payments of all paying patients and to pay over the same to the treasurer of the public assistance authority weekly, and to take a receipt from the said treasurer for every such payment, and to account for such payments and produce such receipts at each inspection of the accounts of the hospital and to report to the public assistance authority thereon.

(35) To perform such other duties appropriate to her office as the public assistance authority may assign to her.

(ii) References in the immediately preceding sub-article to the medical officer shall be construed as references to the surgeon of a county hospital, the physician of a county hospital, the resident medical officer of the county hospital, or the medical officer of a district hospital, as the case may require.

54. The following shall be the duties of a matron of a county home.

ADMISSION OF PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

(1) To admit into the home persons eligible for public assistance in accordance with the prescribed regulations ; and to report to the public assistance authority the admission of any such person to the home otherwise than in pursuance of an order of the authority ; and to take the directions of the authority with respect to such person.

(2) To cause every person eligible for public assistance, upon admission, to be searched, if she considers it expedient, cleansed and clothed, if necessary, and, as soon as practicable after admission to be examined by the medical officer of the home, and to be placed in the ward appropriate to the class to which he appears to belong.

DISCIPLINE AND SUPERVISION.

(3) To govern and control, subject to the directions of the public assistance authority, the subordinate officers and servants, in the home and the inmates thereof.

(4) To report in her Journal any negligence or other misconduct on the part of any of the subordinate officers or servants of the home and to notify the public assistance authority immediately thereof.

(5) To cause the inmates to be inspected every day and their names to be called over before breakfast every day and to see that each individual is clean and in a proper state.

(6) To make provision, in co-operation with the chaplain, for attendance to the religious needs of the inmates.

(7) To provide for and enforce the employment of adult inmates in suitable duties.

(8) To pay particular attention to the moral conduct and orderly behaviour of the female inmates and children, and to see that they are clean and decent in their dress and persons.

(9) To take all precautions necessary to guard against the unauthorised introduction to the home of any intoxicating liquors, or any other articles the introduction of which to the home is prohibited by the public assistance authority or the medical officer of the home.

(10) To see that the home is maintained in a proper and cleanly state.

(11) To inspect the different departments of the home occasionally at night, between the hours of 9 o'clock p.m. and 6 o'clock a.m.

(12) To be responsible for the custody of all pass keys in use in the home, and to see that they are issued only to responsible officers and not used by any person without her permission.

(13) To receive from the porter the keys of the entrance to the home at nine o'clock every night and to cause them to be delivered to him again at 6 o'clock every morning or at such other times as may be fixed by the public assistance authority.

CARE OF INMATES.

(14) To take care, that all necessary arrangements are made for the care of and attendance upon the inmates, both by day and by night, and that no inmate is left unattended at the approach of death.

(15) To inform the medical officer of the home of any matters requiring consideration in connection with the nursing of the sick inmates.

(16) To send for the medical officer of the home in case any inmate is taken ill or becomes of unsound mind.

(17) To take care that all inmates who are sick or of unsound mind and the infants are duly visited by the medical officer of the home, and are provided with such medicines and attendance, diet and other necessaries, as the medical officer shall in writing direct, and that his directions in regard to their treatment and nursing are carried out.

(18) In case of dangerous sickness of any inmate, to send for the chaplain or other minister of the religious denomination of the inmate.

(19) To apprise the nearest relation in the home of the sickness of any inmate, and, in the ease of dangerous illness, to notify, forthwith, any relative or friend of such inmate whom he may desire to see.

(20) To give immediate information of the death of any inmate of the home to the medical officer of the home and to the nearest relatives of the deceased who may be known to her, and if the body be not removed within a reasonable time, to provide for the interment thereof.

(21) On the death of an inmate of the home to take charge of the clothes and other articles, if any, of the deceased and deliver an inventory thereof to the public assistance authority and to carry out its directions respecting the same.

COOKING AND DINING ARRANGEMENTS.

(22) To superintend the cooking and to see that the meals of the inmates are duly provided, cooked, dressed and served.

(23) To see that the dining balls, tables and seats are cleansed after each meal.

SLEEPING WARDS.

(24) To visit all the sleeping wards of the inmates in the forenoon of every day, and to see that such wards have been duly cleansed and properly ventilated.

(25) To visit all the sleeping wards every night at or before 9 o'clock, and to see that all the inmates are in bed, and that all unnecessary fires and lights are extinguished.

(26) To see that the linen, beds and bedding are kept in a clean and wholesome state.

CLOTHING.

(27) To see that all inmates are properly clothed, and that their clothes are kept in proper repair.

(28) To superintend and give the necessary directions for making and mending the linen and clothing supplied to inmates, and to take care that such linen and clothing be marked with the name of the home.

(29) To see that every inmate has clean linen once a week and as occasion may require.

LAUNDRY.

(30) To superintend, and give the necessary directions concerning the washing, drying and getting up of the linen, bedding and clothing, and to see that the same be not dried in the wards occupied by the inmates.

SUPPLIES AND STOCKS.

(31) To make a requisition to the public assistance authority for such articles as she deems to be necessary for the use of the home in such form as may be required by the public assistance authority.

(32) To order such articles for the use of the home as may be authorised by the public assistance authority and to be accountable for such articles.

(33) Not to purchase or procure any articles for the use of the home or order any alterations or repairs of the furniture or other articles belonging thereto, without the prior authorisation of the public assistance authority, except in the case of urgent necessity.

(34) To bring to the notice of the medical officer of the home any provisions or other articles that she may consider not to be of approved quality; to return all articles condemned by the medical officer of the home; and to require them to be replaced by articles of approved quality.

(35) To receive and take charge of all provisions, clothing, linen and other articles, purchased or procured for the use of the home, or confided to her care by the public assistance authority; and to ascertain and certify the accuracy of the delivery notes or invoices ; to issue the same as may be required; and to see that such articles are applied to such purposes as may be authorised or approved of by the public assistance authority and to no other.

(36) To submit to the public assistance authority monthly in advance an estimate of the provisions and other articles as are required for the use of the home for the ensuing month, and to execute the directions of the public assistance authority thereon.

BOOKS AND RECORDS.

(37) To keep a book to be called " the Matron's Journal "; to enter therein any important occurrence in the home, and to cause such book, or a copy of any relevant extract therefrom, to be submitted to the public assistance authority as occasion may require.

(38) To keep all books of accounts and records which she is, or hereafter may be, by any Order of the Minister or by the public assistance authority required to keep; and to allow the same to be constantly open to the inspection of the public assistance authority and of any authorised officer of the Minister and to submit the same to the public assistance authority and such officer as and when required.

GENERAL.

(39) To keep the public assistance authority informed of the state of the home in every department.

(40) To report to the public assistance authority from time to time, the names of such children as may be fit to be placed out at nurse or boarded out or to be sent to employment or certified schools, and to take the necessary steps for carrying into effect the directions of the authority thereon.

(41) To report in writing to the public assistance authority, when circumstances so require, or when so required by the public assistance authority, on any subject affecting the general state of the home or the condition of the inmates thereof.

(42) To offer suggestions to the public assistance authority for the correction of abuses in the management of the home.

(43) To perform such other duties appropriate to her office as the public assistance authority may assign to her.

55. (i) The duties of nurse in a county home, county hospital, or district hospital, shall be as follows :—

ATTENDANCE.

(1) To attend for duty in the wards assigned to her by the matron or head nurse, on such days and during such hours as shall be determined by the public assistance authority, after consultation with the matron or head nurse.

(2) Not to change her hours of duty or to remain off duty without the permission of the matron or head nurse.

SUPERVISION.

(3) To be responsible to the matron or head nurse for the order and cleanliness of the wards, bathrooms and lavatories placed in her charge, and for the conduct of the wards under her control and the patients therein.

(4) To superintend all wardsmaids, servants, or other persons employed in the wards under her charge and to report to the matron or head nurse any idleness, disobedience, or neglect on their part to perform their allotted duties.

(5) To ensure that all presses and stores in the wards and apartments under her charge are kept locked and are opened only under her supervision.

(6) When on day duty to see that all the wards placed in her charge are in suitable order at 9 o'clock p.m. and that they are left in good order for the night nurse.

(7) When on day duty to see that a sufficient supply of requisites likely to be required for the inmates during the night is provided for the wards under her charge.

(8) When on night duty to see that each ward placed in her charge is suitably heated and lighted during the night.

(9) To inspect at least twice daily all lavatories, washrooms, bathrooms and sinks connected with the wards under her charge, and to see that they are properly kept, and to give instructions by notice or otherwise as to the use of same and to report any defects to the matron or head nurse.

(10) To take all steps necessary to prevent the washing of clothes or utensils in the wards placed in her charge.

(11) To assist the matron or head nurse in maintaining order, punctuality, cleanliness and good conduct, in the institution and the due observance of the regulations by the assistants and inmates under her charge.

CARE OF THE SICK.

(12) To administer personally, in accordance with the directions of the medical officer of the institution, all medicines and stimulants to the inmates under her care; to see that they are provided with such dressings or other articles as the medical officer of the institution shall prescribe; to supervise the distribution of food to the inmates; and to see that food is not given to the inmates except under her directions.

(13) Duly and properly to enter the requisite particulars in the bed card provided for each inmate under her care.

(14) To take all steps necessary to ensure that poultices, or hot water jars are not applied to patients otherwise than under her personal supervision and not to permit dressings to be applied to patients by unauthorised persons.

(15) To assist personally in the washing of helpless inmates, and at the making of the beds of those inmates who are unable themselves to do so; to see that the beds and bedding are kept in a clean and wholesome state, that each bed is stripped frequently and that no sick inmate is taken out of bed for the purpose of having it made without being wrapped in a suitable rug or blanket.

(16) To give immediate information to the matron or head nurse when any inmate is dangerously ill and requires the services of a medical officer or the appropriate chaplain of the institution.

(17) To see that screens are placed around the beds of dying inmates under her care in all cases where there is a likelihood of exposure.

(18) To give immediate information to the matron or head nurse of the death of any inmate of the wards under her care; to make all suitable arrangements with respect to the body of the deceased; and to see that the body is removed as soon as may be from the ward.

(19) When on day duty to leave a written report for the night nurse in the form required by the medical officer of the institution in regard to the inmates under her care.

(20) When on night duty to see that food, stimulants and medicines are supplied during the night in accordance with the directions of the medical officer of the institution to the inmates of the wards in her charge, to see that the matron or head nurse is called when her presence is necessary, and to leave a written report for the day nurse in the form required by the medical officer of the institution in regard to the inmates under her care.

SUPPLIES.

(21) To be accountable to the matron or head nurse for all articles supplied to her for use in the wards or of the patients thereof.

(22) To keep an accurate inventory of all cutlery, delph, medical and surgical appliances and other articles in each ward under her charge, and to see that these articles are kept in a proper condition.

(23) To report immediately to the matron or head nurse when any clothing or other articles are required in the wards under her charge or by the inmates thereof.

(24) To report to the matron or head nurse any defects or deterioration in the medicines, dressings, diet or other articles supplied to the wards, and to return to the matron or head nurse all condemned or worn-out articles.

(25) To count, if required, the soiled linen of the wards in her charge to the matron or head nurse, before it is sent to the laundry.

GENERAL.

(26) To wear uniform while on duty and to be clean and tidy in her habits.

(27) Not to absent herself without due cause, when on duty, from the wards allotted to her charge.

(28) Not to give her pass key to any inmate of the institution.

(29) Generally to observe and fulfil all lawful orders and directions of the medical officer of the institution and the matron or head nurse suitable to her office.

(30) To perform such other duties appropriate to her office as may be assigned to her by the public assistance authority.

(ii) The provisions of this Article may, with the approval of the Minister, be altered by the public assistance authority acting on the advice of the medical officer of the institution and the particulars of any such alterations shall be duly recorded by the public assistance authority.

56. The following shall be duties of the porter of the county home :—

(1) To keep the gate and to prevent any person, not being an officer of the public assistance authority or one of the inspectors of the Minister, or any person authorised by law, or by the Minister or the public assistance authority, from entering into, or going out of the home without the leave of the matron.

(2) To keep a book in which he shall enter the name and business of every officer or other person who shall go into the home, and the name of every officer or other person who shall go out thereof, together with the time of such officer's or person's going in or out.

(3) To receive all persons eligible for public assistance who apply for admission in accordance with the prescribed regulations, or under circumstances of sudden and urgent necessity and transfer them to the charge of the matron.

(4) To take charge of any clothes or other articles taken from any person eligible for public assistance admitted to the home and to deposit them when cleansed, in a place appropriated for the purpose, having affixed to them a list of the articles and the name of the person to whom they belong.

(5) To examine all parcels and goods before they are received into the home and prevent the introduction of any intoxicating liquors or other articles the introduction of which to the home is prohibited by the public assistance authority or the medical officer of the home.

(6) To detain every inmate entering or leaving the home whom he may suspect to have possession of any intoxicating liquor or other prohibited articles and, if so directed by the matron, to search such person, if of the male sex, or to cause such person, if of the female sex, to be searched by such person of her own sex as the matron may appoint for the purpose and to require any other person entering the home whom he may suspect of attempting to bring into the home any intoxicating liquors or other prohibited articles to satisfy him to the contrary before he shall permit such person to be admitted.

(7) To examine all parcels taken by an inmate out of the home, and to prevent the unlawful removal of any article from the premises.

(8) To lock all the outer doors, and take the keys to the matron at nine o'clock every night, and to receive them back from her every morning at six o'clock, or at such other hours as shall from time to time be fixed by the public assistance authority and if any application for admission to the home be made after the keys shall have been so taken to the matron, to apprise the matron forthwith of such application.

(9) To assist the matron in preserving order, and in enforcing obedience and due subordination in the home.

(10) To inform the matron of all things affecting the security, order and interest of the home.

(11) To obey all lawful directions of the matron applicable to his office.

(12) To perform such other duties appropriate to his office as the public assistance authority may assign to him.

57. The duties of the chaplain of a district institution shall be as follows :—

(a) To conduct any religious services required in the institution and to afford religious instructions to the inmates thereof of his own religious denomination.

(b) To visit regularly the sick inmates of his own religious denomination; and to attend any such patient whenever so required by the matron, head nurse, or other responsible officer.

(c) To arrange, when practicable, for the performance of the funeral service at the burial of inmates of his own religious denomination.

(d) To report to the public assistance authority any matters affecting, in his opinion, the moral or religious condition of the inmates.

58. The duties of every superintendent assistance officer shall, as regards his district, be as follows :—

(1) To superintend generally the assistance officers in the discharge of their duties; to visit from time to time the district of each assistance officer either with or without notice to the officer; to inquire into the circumstances of persons in receipt of assistance; and to report thereon to the public assistance authority; and generally to see that the administration of assistance is properly and lawfully carried out by the assistance officers.

(2) To examine periodically and ascertain the correctness of the entries in, and to authenticate, if accurate, by his initials and the date, the various books required to be kept by the assistance officers; to see that such books are duly and properly kept; to report to the public assistance authority any inaccuracies in such books and any negligence or improper conduct by the assistance officers in the performance of their duties; and to take possession of and retain for production to the auditor all certificates and receipts for assistance in kind afforded by the assistance officers.

(3) To furnish to the public assistance authority once in each month a report on the duties performed by him and generally on the administration of assistance in each assistance district visited by him together with a summary of all visits of inspection made by him.

(4) To receive, examine and investigate, if necessary, all applications for assistance forwarded to him by the assistance officers; to enter the particulars of every such application in a book to be kept for each assistance district to be called the Assistance Application and Report Book; and to submit the same to the public assistance authority for decision, to be authenticated by the initials of the manager, in the columns to be provided for that purpose in the said book, and to notify the assistance officer of the decision of the public assistance authority in each case.

(5) To submit to the public assistance authority for decision any recommendations made to him by the assistance officer for the continuance of assistance.

(6) To receive and investigate, if necessary, and to fill in the required particulars on the report of any assistance officer on any provisional home assistance given by such officer and to give such directions in regard thereto as he shall think expedient pending the decision of the public assistance authority, or to order that such assistance shall be discontinued in any case that he considers proper, and to notify the assistance officer accordingly.

(7) To keep carefully the case papers of applicants for assistance in such manner that each case paper is easily accessible and so that a continuous record of the assistance afforded by the public assistance authority to any person eligible for assistance shall be preserved; to keep up to date the information therein contained; and to submit to the public assistance authority, the relevant case-paper on each occasion on which the case is considered by it.

(8) To keep and punctually enter up a register of the persons in receipt of home assistance, to be called the Home Assistance Register and to produce such register, as and when required, for the examination, correction or approval of the public assistance authority; and to submit the same when so approved or corrected, to the public assistance authority for authentication, and there-upon to countersign the same.

(9) To keep for each assistance district and punctually enter up a list to be called the Home Assistance List showing particulars of and classifying the persons who received home assistance during each half of the local financial year.

(10) To enter in a cash book the particulars rendered in the statement of receipts and expenditure to be forwarded to him by each assistance officer.

(11) To prepare and transmit to the public assistance authority at the close of each month, an abstract of the accounts of the several assistance officers.

(12) To prepare and transmit to the public assistance authority at the close of each half year a certified statement of the financial and statistical matters relating to home assistance required by the public assistance authority for the purpose of closing the accounts of the authority and preparing the statistical and other portions of the Abstract of Accounts.

(13) To visit periodically, or when directed to do so by the public assistance authority, persons in receipt of home assistance and to inquire when necessary or when directed by the authority, into the circumstances of persons applying for assistance before their applications are considered by the authority.

(14) To make due inquiries as to the persons liable to maintain a person to whom assistance is given and as to the ability of such persons to contribute towards the cost of such assistance.

(15) To visit, when required by the public assistance authority any children assisted by the authority otherwise than in a district institution and to report thereon to the authority.

(16) To perform temporarily the duties of an assistance officer in any assistance district when so directed by the public assistance authority or when any such officer is absent from duty through illness or other unavoidable cause.

(17) To make inquiries when directed by the public assistance authority as to whether any patient maintained in a district mental hospital at the public expense has property applicable to his maintenance, or relatives who are in a position to contribute to his support, and to report thereon to the public assistance authority.

(18) To execute all lawful orders which the public assistance authority may give and which are applicable to his office.

(19) To perform such other duties appropriate to his office as the public assistance authority may assign to him.

59. The duties of every assistance officer shall be as follows :—

(1) To attend at such places in his district at such times of the day, and on such days in the week as the public assistance authority, shall, from time to time, direct, for the purpose of dispensing home assistance and of receiving applications for assistance.

(2) To receive all applications for assistance made to him within his district, and forthwith to examine into the circumstances of every case by visiting the home of the applicant, and making all necessary inquiries and to submit each such application through the superintendent assistance officer to the public assistance authority for decision.

(3) With each application for assistance to fill up and transmit to the superintendent assistance officer a case-paper, if none exists relating to the case, or if there is an existing case-paper relating to the case, to furnish to such officer such particulars and information as may be necessary to bring such case-paper up to date.

(4) To keep a copy of every case-paper furnished by him and to keep the particulars thereon contained up to date.

(5) In every case of sudden and urgent necessity to afford as an authorised person under section 20 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939 , such provisional assistance to a person eligible for assistance as may be necessary, that is to say :—

(a) if such person requires immediate treatment in hospital, by issuing an order of admission to a county or district hospital and conveying the person thereto if necessary; or

(b) by issuing an order of admission to a county home and by conveying the person thereto if necessary; or

(c) by affording such person temporary assistance in food, fuel, or other articles of absolute necessity or by the provision of temporary lodging.

(6) To report to the superintendent assistance officer every case in which as an authorised person under section 20 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939 , he shall have granted provisional assistance and the nature of such assistance and, in the case of home assistance, the cost of the assistance so given and to take the directions of such officer regarding any further assistance to be afforded in every case so reported pending the decision of the public assistance authority.

(7) Duly and punctually to dispense the weekly allowances of all persons eligible for assistance belonging to his district personally to such persons or at their homes and on no account to dispense such allowances in any promises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors or in any shop; and to assist all such persons within his district as directed and authorised by the public assistance authority and notified to him by the superintendent assistance officer.

(8) To notify the superintendent assistance officer before the expiration of the period for which home assistance has been granted, any case in which he considers such assistance should be continued.

(9) Where the public assistance authority has authorised assistance to be given to any person by admission to a district institution, to give to such person or to some person on his behalf, an order of admission to such district institution.

(10) To keep a book to be called the Assistance Officer's Expenditure Book in which shall be shown a separate, full and true account of all sums and articles dispensed by him weekly for or on account of the assistance of each person eligible for assistance in his district.

(11) To keep a book to be called the Assistance Officer's Receipt and Expenditure Book, in which shall be shown a separate, full and true account of all sums of money or articles received by him from the public assistance authority and expended or dispensed by him on account of his district, and to balance the same weekly.

(12) To prepare and transmit to the superintendent assistance officer on the Saturday of every week a statement showing the receipts and expenditure for his district for the week ending on the preceding Friday .

(13) In no case to take credit in his accounts or to enter as paid or given any money or other articles which shall not have been paid or given previously to the taking of such credit or the making of such entry.

(14) To submit to the superintendent assistance officer and to the auditor all his books, accounts and vouchers at such time and place, and in such manner as may be required by such officer or auditor.

(15) To keep a diary showing how he has been employed in the discharge of his duties on each day of the week and to submit the same to the superintendent assistance officer for inspection as and when he shall be required.

(16) To keep for the purpose of inspection and production at audit or to the superintendent assistance officer an alphabetical index of all cases in which he shall have granted provisional assistance and of all applications for assistance made to him; and to keep carefully in alphabetical or other suitable order the notifications of the decisions of the public assistance authority received by him from the superintendent assistance officer in regard to applications for assistance.

(17) In the case of every child placed out at nurse or boarded out and placed under his supervision by the public assistance authority to discharge the duty so assigned to him in accordance with the following regulations :—

(a) If so required by the public assistance authority to see the child safely given over in charge to the person whom the public assistance authority shall have selected for the purpose.

(b) To pay, in advance, or otherwise as the public assistance authority shall direct, but not less often than once in each month from the funds placed at his disposal for that purpose, the sums granted from time to time by the public assistance authority for the maintenance and clothing or other assistance of the child, and to satisfy himself that any such sum granted for a specified purpose other than maintenance has been duly expended by the foster-parent for such purpose.

(c) To pay all such sums personally to the foster-parent and on no account to dispense such sums in any premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor or in any shop.

(d) To cause the child, if not already successfully vaccinated, to be vaccinated by the medical officer of the dispensary district in which the foster-parent resides.

(e) In the event of the death of the child to take steps for its burial according to the directions of the public assistance authority applicable generally to such cases and to report the circumstances of the death to the public assistance authority without delay.

(18) To observe and execute all lawful orders and directions of the public assistance authority applicable to his office.

(19) To perform such other duties appropriate to his office as the public assistance authority may assign to him.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health this Twelfth day of May, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-two.

(Signed) SEÁN MACENTEE,Minister for Local Government and Public Health.

SCHEDULE.

FORM OF CONTRACT FOR CHILDREN PLACED OUT AT NURSE OR BOARDED OUT.

This Indenture made this⁽¹⁾ day of 19 , between the (hereinafter called the public assistance authority) of the first part, and⁽²⁾ of the second part, witnesseth that the said⁽³⁾ (hereinafter called the foster-parent), doth hereby accept the charge of⁽⁴⁾ , now aged about⁽⁵⁾ years, (and hereinafter called the child); and in consideration of the sum of⁽⁶⁾ per month, to be paid to the foster-parent by the public assistance authority as hereinafter mentioned, doth hereby covenant and agree to bring up the child, and to endeavour to train him (or her) in habits of truthfulness, obedience, personal cleanliness and industry, as well as in suitable domestic and outdoor work. And the foster-parent doth hereby bind himself (or herself) to observe and keep in respect of the child the following conditions, that is to say :—

1. The child shall be properly and sufficiently ]nursed] ]boarded]⁽⁷⁾, and shall be suitably lodged and clothed and kept clean in its person.

2. If the child shall at any time be suffering from illness or the effects of accident, medical assistance shall be obtained for it in the manner provided by law at or from a dispensary of the dispensary district in which the foster parent resides, and if the medical officer of such district shall advise its removal to hospital the foster parent shall allow it to be so removed.

3. The child shall be presented for inspection and examination at all reasonable times when required by the assistance officer or other authorised officer of the public assistance authority, or by any person having authority from the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, or from the public assistance authority, to examine and inspect it.

4. The child shall be restored to the custody of the public assistance authority and their officers at any time when the foster parent shall be required by the public assistance authority so to restore it.

5. The child, when of sufficient age to attend school, shall, subject to the approval of the chaplain of the county home of the public assistance authority of the religious denomination in which the child is registered, attend the nearest national school, or shall, subject to the approval of the public assistance authority and of such chaplain, attend some other public school, and a certificate of such attendance signed by the teacher, and showing the days of absence (if any), shall be given to the assistance officer each month ; provided that if the school be not a national school, the child shall be examined annually by an inspector of the Department of Education at a convenient time and place, and the result of such examination shall be reported to the public assistance authority.

6. The child shall, when of sufficient age, attend divine worship at a place of worship frequented by the foster parent and his or her family

And the public assistance authority doth hereby covenant and agree with the foster parent that so long as the child shall continue in his (or her) charge and shall not have attained the age of sixteen years, they (the public assistance authority) will pay or cause to be paid to the foster parent the sum of⁽⁶⁾ on the⁽⁸⁾ day of each calendar month, and a proportionate part of such monthly payment in the event of the child being removed from the charge of the foster parent in the interval between any of the said days of payment.

And the public assistance authority hereby further covenants and agrees that the child shall from time to time be provided by them with suitable and sufficient clothing, and that due provision shall be made by them for the repair of such clothing, and also for the payment of any school fees, which may lawfully become due and payable in respect of the child's attendance and education at school and of the cost of any necessary school requisites that may be required by the child.

Given under our hands the day and year first herein mentioned.

(1) Insert date.

(2) Insert name and address of foster-parent.

(3) Insert name of foster-parent.

(4) Insert name of child.

(5) Insert age of child.

(6) Insert amount.

(7) Delete whichever is inapplicable.

(8) Insert " first ", " second ", or " third " etc., as may be agreed upon.

MEMORANDUM IN REGARD TO MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

The requisitions should be made out in strict accordance with the printed instructions on the form, and orders should be confined to such articles as the Medical Officer concerned from his knowledge of the Institution has reason to think will be required.

Immediately on receipt of each consignment, the quantities supplied should be checked with the invoice, each drug and medicine weighed, and any excess or deficiency noted. The Medical Officer concerned shall then personally select a few samples (three to six) and forward them to the Secretary of the Public Assistance Authority for transmission to the analyst, and shall mark on the invoice the items from which the selections have been made. The Medical Officer also shall see that the samples are carefully made up (sample bottles and corrugated paper for packing are included in the prescribed lists), and shall attach to each sample a label showing :—

(a) The name of the County ;

(b) The name of the institution ;

(c) The name of the drug ;

(d) The date of delivery of the drug by contractor at the institution ;

(e) The name of the Medical Officer and date of forwarding sample to the analyst.

The Secretary to the Public Assistance Authority will provide the requisite supplies of suitable labels, and the Medical Officer should ascertain that the sample bottles are perfectly clean and dry, and he should use stoppered bottles for liquid acids and volatile drugs—the bottles to be entirely filled so as to prevent deterioration. Powders that are liable to chemical change owing to exposure should be sent in properly corked bottles. Sealing wax should not be used on the corks of the sample bottles. The analysts have been requested to note upon their certificates any failure to observe the above directions. The Medical Officer should at once call the attention of the Public Assistance Authority to any delay on the part of the contractor in forwarding the drugs or the invoices, which latter should be despatched on the same day as the goods.

Medical Officers should exercise their own discretion in selecting the samples, and shall be fully responsible for the judiciousness of the selection made on each occasion. The following are, however, the drugs and medicines found by experience to be most likely to be adulterated or deficient in strength :—

Glycerinum pepsini, Hydrargyrum cum creta, Linimentum camphoræ, Liquor Hydrargyri perchloridi, Liquor iodi mitis, Liquor morphine Hydrochloridi, Liquor strychinæ Hydrochloridi, Oxymel scillæ, Spiritus Aetheris nitrosi, Spiritus Ammoniæ Aromaticus, Syrupus ferri iodidi, Syrupus ferri phosphatis cum quinina et strychnina, Unguentum Chrysarobini, Ungentum hydrargyri, Unguentum iodi denigrescens. Tinctures, Liquid Extracts and Concentrated Liquors are frequently deficient in alcohol or in extractive.

The Department of Local Government and Public Health have ascertained that the quantities requisite for analytical purposes of the under-mentioned drugs are :—

The Medical Officer, when the articles received have been duly checked with the invoice, shall fill in the certificate at D, and immediately transmit the "Original" requisition to the Secretary to the Public Assistance Authority, retaining the other copy in the institution.

Sera and trusses, when urgently required, may be ordered by the Medical Officer direct from the contractor by letter or telegram, but in such cases a formal requisition in confirmation of the order must be subsequently submitted to the Public Assistance Authority in the usual manner.

In the event of a Medical Officer requiring to be supplied with any article not on the prescribed lists, a separate requisition must be made on a form which should follow the usual form as nearly as possible, and be dealt with in the same manner. The requisition should state the circumstances which are considered to render it necessary, the estimated cost of the article, and the reason why none of the articles on the prescribed lists is suitable to the case.

Such items as disinfectants, soap, water jugs and basins, towels, lamps, candles, lamp oil, for use in institutions should not be included in these requisitions, but should be obtained through the Public Assistance Authority in the same manner as the ordinary supplies for a district Institution.