HOSPITAL VISITORS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 54, 22 March 1946, Page 5

HOSPITAL VISITORS

QUESTION OF CHILD CONTROL

RESTRICTIONS ON 8-YEAR-OLDS

Following further discussion on the question of controlling child visitors to the hospital the Whakatane Board last week decided to authorise the Medical Superintendent to make provisional arrangements for detaining all children under eight years in a special room under the charge of a sister, until five minutes before visiting hour closed when they would be permitted to see the patients for that short interval.

Dr. Dawson introducing the matter said that from time to time the Board had considered the question of visiting and his recommendation at the last meeting came about as a result of a perfect bedlam which had taken place not only in the wards but in the passageway, when young children visitors made it almost impossible to hear oneself speak. The state of affairs could not be allowed to go on, not only in the interests of the patients but also in the in terests of the staff. He had always been averse to very young child ven visiting the hospital for quite apart from the possibility of infection the place was not suitable for He had as a result evolved the scheme whereby a sister could remain in charge of the children while their parents or adults visited the wards. He added that it was only natural for young children to get restlesss and want to explore the building but if they were kept suitably occupied in a special room they could be prevented from running wild and making a nuisance of themselves. In answer to the chairman (Mr J. Mullins) Dr. Dawson said that in the larger hospitals no children were admitted under 12 years, while in others they were blocked altogether. Some again permitted them in for five minutes before the bell. The most unruly element from his own observations were the six-year-olds and under.

Board members were sceptical as to the controlling of the children by the sister appointed. Dr. Dawson: All we can do is try! Mr McGougan was for giving Dr. Dawson a free hand to experiment as to the best method to be employed but Mr Caulfield considered this course merely throwing the full responsibility upon the doctor. On his motion it was finally decided to experiment for two months along the lines set out in the heading.