HOSPITAL COMPLAINT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 247, 18 October 1929, Page 8

HOSPITAL COMPLAINT.

TOO jMANY VISITORS.

HANDSHAKES AND ADIEUS.

LIMITATION 'IN • OTHER CENTRES;

Suggestions that patients at the Auckland Hospital have been discomfited by too many, visitors to tlio wards are contained in a letter .from a patient. Writing to the editor of the "Auckland Star" the correspondent "protests against the present system of hospital visitation, by which hundreds of visitors are allowed to . flood the sick wards on • alternate days of the week,-sapping the physical energy of the patients, and overwhelming the nursing staff."

The writer stated that in one ward, where six urgent cases had been admitted on one day, some being treated for shock following accident, 110 less than 150 visitors were admitted .in' one hour; .He added that there were .30 similar wards in the hospital. "Imagine a patient- after an operation, too, exhausted to setv his own visitors," the writer continues, ''having to endure the noise of a - busy thoroughfare for" an hour; of so. 1 Last night 1 was too il! to have visitors, but my neighbour, a few feet awav, had 20, all of whom stayed an hour."

A tribute to the efliciency of the nursing staff is paid by the writer, who remarks that two nurses will spend half aii hour washing and sponging a patient arid will lift him about so that his loss, of. energy . is kept to a minimum. An hour later he is called upon to keep up an exhausting conversation with visitors,-' introducing one group to another, twisting his head and body constantly' to keep the whole circle in focus,' then using up the remainder of his energy in-numerous handshakes and adieus. The letter concluded with an appeal for. Auckland to come into line with other cities, where hospital patients are allowed to receive only, two visitors at a time. In the absence from Auckland of the chairman of, the Hospital Board, Mr. W. Wallace, the secretary, Air. 11. A. Sommerville, briefly replied to the statements contained in the, letter. "Jt is entirely a, matter of policy," lie said. "We issue tickets at the inquiry ollice to any visitors who wish to see patients. I know that in Wellington a different method is adopted. There a limited number of tickets is issued, and only persons holding those tickets may visit patients. Others desiring to see the same patients must wait until the tickets are available, before entering the wards."

' Asked whether the matter had been discussed by- the Hospitals' -Association, Mr. Sonimerville said, to his knowledge, it, had not; -neither had it come before the Auckland board. The chairman of the -board-was frequently at the hospital during visiting hours 011 Sundays,-and in the evening. Patients would be assured of a sympathetic hearing if they spoke to Mr. ; Wallace .personally about. the matter, or if ; thevwrote to the board.