VISITS TO CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL
StR,—The practice in certain hospitals of forbidding parents to see children at all while they are patients seems to me to raise a grave issue of parental rights. I took the matter up with the governor of one of these hospitals, who stated that the rule is imposed by the boards because visits upset the children, introduce infection, and are a nuisance gener- ally. He states that these regulations are widespread. I then enquired at the main London hospitals and obtained these details:—
HOURS WHEN CHILDREN MAY BE VISITED.
GUY'S : Sunday, 2-4.
BART'S : Wednesday, 3-4 ; Sunday, 2-3.30.
ST. THOMAS'S : First month, no visits, but parents may see
children asleep between 7 and 8. After one month, twice weekly.
WESTMINSTER: Wednesday, 2-3; Sunday, 2-3.
WEST LONDON : No visiting.
CHARING CROSS: Sunday, 3-4.
LONDON: Under 3, no visits, but parents may watch
them, through partitions. Over 3, twice weekly.
I visited Bart's and the Westminster, and my conclusions broadly are that visits are unquestionably desirable for older children.; for younger children they cause upsets, but I think they are essential, and do not believe they cause any basic harm. In any case the parents should surely decide. I question very -strongly whether any board should have the power to prevent parents visiting children at a time when many people would consider they are in acute need of their mothers' support, and I submit that it constitutes a grave violation of a fundamental human right. The harm that may come from the abuse of such power seems to me infinitely greater than the passing inconvenience and upsets that
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