AUCKLAND HOSPITAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23558, 22 July 1938, Page 14

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL

VISITING HOURS TO BE LIMITED WORK OF STAFFS HINDERED (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, July 21. Because it has been found that the Influx of visitors every day of the week severely hinders the v/ork of the nursing and medical staffs as well as prejudicing the interests of 800 patients in the institution, the visiting hours of the Auckland Hospital are to be limited to four days a week This intention was announced by the chair man of the board. Mr Allan Moody when he said that careful Inquiries had revealed various factors which made it most advantageous to make the change. Mr Moody said that under the present system visitors were al lowed at the institution on every day of the week, alternative hours being observed in the afternoons and evenings. Up to 18 months ago, however only four visiting periods each week were permitted, Sunday and Wednesday afternoons and Tuesday and Thursday nights being fixed as the times.

“ The present state of over-crowding in the buildings makes it imperative, In the interests of the patients and the medical and nursing staffs, to reduce the visiting hours and to revert to the former system,” Mr Moody said. It is perfectly clear that the efforts of the nurses and doctors are at present being greatly interfered with and instructions to alter the hours will be given forthwith.” The new visiting hours, which would come Into effect early next month, would be from 2 p.m to 4 p.m on Sunday and Wednesday and from 7 p.m to 8 p.m on Thursday and Fnis important, nowever for the public to realise that in no case of dangerous illness will special visiting permits be refused by the medical superintendent.” Mr Moody added, ‘‘but it should be clearly understood that the visiting hours will be definitely adhered to. and outside of these times no person will be allowed in the wards except those who possess the special permits which I nave mentioned.”