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Tuesday, October 2, 1973
PUBLIC URGED TO HELP REDUCE CONGESTION DURING HOSPITAL VISITING HOURS
Dr. K.F. Chan, acting Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services
(Medical), today urged members of the press, radio and television to help
the department persuade the public to observe regulations during visiting
hours at government hospitals.
Ho told a press conference at departmental headquarters that
congestion at the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary hospitals between 2 p.. and
3 p.m. had reached a point he could only describe as "chaotic."
Every patient on admission was given a leaflet making clear that
only two visitors at a time were allowed each patient in the general wards.
This was for the convenience of all, since certain wards had as many as
40 beds each.
"This rule seers nowadays to be entirely disregarded," Dr. Chan
said, "and when our staff tries to enforce it, they are accused of being rude."
He said the department objected to the presence of children amongst
visitors. This was contrary to the rules, because children were more
susceptible to the dangers of cross-infection than adults.
Dr. Chan referred to the problem of congestion at the two main
government hospitals as "overwhelming." At the Queen Elizabeth Hospital more
than 6,000 visitors blocked corridors and stairways everyday. At Queen
Mary, more than 3,000 daily visitors did the same thing.
He hoped the media would help spread the message that the visiting
hour had been deliberately chosen as the most convenient time -- both for
the patient and the caller and that adherence to the rules would do much
to relievo pressure.
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