Shall the Fund be open exclusively to nurses belonging to the proposed
Institution under Miss Nightingale?
Or extended to those of the London hospitals?
Or extended to all Hospitals in England?
Or in the three kingdoms?
Or in Her Majesty’s dominions in general?
Shall the Fund be extended to private and monthly nurses, including
midwives, as well as to hospital-nurses?
I submit that we should consult, on these points, the authorities
of the principal hospitals and a few men of experience in business
besides. (Philanthropists by trade are, as is well known, the worst
possible authorities on subjects of this kind.)
My impression is that the Fund should certainly be extended to the
three kingdoms. Whether it should be extended to the empire would
depend entirely, in my judgment, upon the check and scrutiny it would
be possible to exert, on accounts, monies, and certificates, in distant
parts. Upon this men of business should advise.
I think the Fund might eventually be open to private nurses, midwives,
and monthly nurses.[22]
I think it perhaps might be open to the St. John’s House nurses and
to those of any institution which does not provide its servants with a
pension. The Nursing Sisters’ Society, I believe, have recently decided
on granting their sisters £20 a-year, after twelve years’ service, a
wise, generous, and, if properly worked, economical measure. We must
avoid the very appearance of disfavour to other nursing institutions.
[Sidenote: Objects to be sought.]