VISITING HOSPITAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12458, 28 May 1926, Page 7

VISITING HOSPITAL

TO BE ALLOWED DAILY TENTATIVE, BUT MAY BE PERMANENT ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGES Yesterday the Wellington Hospital Board agreed to a trial being given to the recommendation of the .Medical Superintendent, that the hospital be open to visitors daily instead of from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sundays, and 7 to .7.30 p.m. on Fridays for husbands only. The hours will be as follow:—Sunday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., 7 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.; tuesday, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., 7 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.; Wednesday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., 7 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.; Friday, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., 7 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.; Saturday, 3 p.iu. to 4 p.m. Dr. Macdonald ilson, in his report, 6tated that with the increase in the number of patients, there was now a congestion of visitors on the two official afternoons, and therefore, a change was desirable. He was compelled to make a compromise between the freedom he desired to give to visitors and the restrictions necessary to allow the work of the wards and treatment to patients to proceed without interruption. Evening visitors would be limited to one visitor only, while at other hours not more than two to each patient to be in the ward at the same time. While those controlling the hospital had a duty to the puWie, he would like to emphasise the duty the public owed the hospital. So long as the present large ward system continued

there was always likely to be some patient who would be disturbed to some extent by congestion and noise in the wards. Therefore, in recommending the changes, he hoped that .visitors would arrange their visits by rotation and not cause a daily congestion. Until the new block was complete it was impossible to make tKe hour any earlier. Mr Appleton thought it might be desirable to modify the medical superintendent’s proposal in view of what had happened at Christchurch, but members objected to any change after the committee had approved the superintendents proposal.