VISITING HOURS AT HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22851, 26 October 1939, Page 14

VISITING HOURS AT HOSPITAL

SLIGHT RESTRICTION PROPOSED

RECOMMENDATION SENT BACK TO COMMITTEE The hospital committee of the North Canterbury Hospital Board will be asked to reconsider its recommendation, made to the board yesterday, that in the future, the Sunday visiting hours should be restricted from 2.15 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. The board agreed, at the same time, to a slight restriction of the visiting hours in the children’s ward, necessitated by circumstances. At the last meeting of the board a question was asked by Mr W. J. Walter, whether it was correct that visitors were not admitted punctually at 2 p.m. 1 to the children’s ward. The committee reported that it was seldom as late as 2.15 p.m. that the ward was opened. “When it is realised that there are 20 to 30 children in the ward under two years of age, each requiring individual attention, it will be seen that it would often be difficult to open the ward exactly at 2 o’clock. A bell is rung at 3.45 p.m. to ask visitors to leave, and even then the ward is seldom cleared, as it should be. by 4 p.m.’’ The committee also recommended that the future Sunday visiting hours for the whole hospital be from 2.15 *p.m. ■ to 3.45 p.m. Mr Walter claimed that his request had aimed at an extension of hours; but the committee had recommended an all-round reduction. Sir Hugh Acland, the chairman of the committee, said that he thought the committee had acted wisely. The board’s job was to see that patients recovered. To ensure that, it was important, particularly in the children's ward, to restrict the visiting hours. All those who had to do with the care of children knew that it was not in their best interests to have many or long visiting hours. Children often suffered a set-back after visiting day.

It was decided that the board agree to the first recommendation and refer the wider issue back to the committee.