asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the visiting hours on Sundays at St. Kevin's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin, are most unsuitable for County Dublin people desirous of visiting patients there; that numbers of visitors have been unable to gain admission on Sundays during visiting hours; and if, as Sunday is the only suitable visiting day for country people he will make arrangements to have the visiting hours extended from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on that day.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Visiting Hours.
The visiting hours at St. Kevin's Institution on Sundays are from 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. The Dublin Board of Assistance has full authority in a matter of this kind and I am given to understand that these hours were fixed to suit the hospital administration and to facilitate the care and attention a large number of the patients need. Tea is served daily at 4 p.m. and supper about 6.30 p.m. I am informed that if visitors were to be present in the institution after 3.30 o'clock p.m. the distribution of meals to the patients would be disarranged.
I should like to put it to the Minister that people living away in Barnaculla, Glencullen or Garristown find it difficult to visit their relations and friends in this institution during the present visiting hours. Even if they have dinner at 1 o'clock, it is not possible for them to get in to visit their friends and relatives during the present visiting hours. Would the Minister make some representations to the St. Kevin's Hospital authorities that if the visiting hours were extended, say, to 5 o'clock, it would not interfere with the meal hours in the institution?
The trouble is that there is a very large number of people to be considered in connection with this matter. There are all the other inmates, as well as the attendants in the institution, but I am told that if visitors were to be admitted to the institution after 3.30, the distribution of meals would be disarranged, and it might be difficult to fit in the supper with the regular hours of the attendants. That is the difficulty. However, I will make representations and see what can be done to meet the situation which the Deputy describes.