asked the Minister for Health if he will state in relation to the Western Health Board (a) the facilities provided for parents whose children have to be hospitalised for either short or long periods of time in each of the hospitals under the board's jurisdiction; (b) whether any of these hospitals limit parents' visiting hours; and (c) the number of these hospitals which operate on open all hours policy for parents.
Written Answers. - Western Health Board Facilities.
605.
In each of the consultant staffed acute general hospitals under the jurisdiction of the Western Health Board the following facilities are available:
Regional Hospital Galway
There are two special rooms provided for parents in the paediatric unit of this hospital. If further accommodation is required in the unit this is provided in the room with the child or in one of the wards. In relation to other areas in the hospital where children are accommodated, the parents are always allowed either to room with the child or in another ward.
Merlin Park Regional Hospital and Roscommon General Hospital
There are no special rooms for parents in these hospitals, but where parents wish to remain with their child, they may either room with the child or accommodation is provided in another area of the hospital.
Castlebar General Hospital
Due to the inadequacy of space at this hospital, there are no rooms available for parents. However, every effort is made to accommodate parents who wish to remain with their child, but due to the shortage of space, the accommodation may have to be provided on the corridor. This matter will be remedied in the developments announced recently for the hospital.
All of the board's hospitals have an "open all hours" policy for parents visiting their children and there is no limitation on the length of such visits. The medical and nursing staff at the hospitals encourage parents to visit and stay with their children.