§ MR. DIXON-HARTLANDasked the President of the Local Government Board, Why, since the 1st January, the Kensington Infirmary has been closed against the parishioners on Wednesdays; and, whether the master of the workhouse adjoining labours under any special restrictions preventing him from allowing aged inmates being seen by near relatives at other than visiting times?
MR. GEORGE RUSSELLIt rests with the Board of Guardians to make such regulations as they may deem desirable as to the admission of visitors to the infirmary and the workhouse. As regards the infirmary, since the 1st of January there has been only one general weekly visiting day—namely, Sunday—but in all cases of dangerous illness visitors are allowed on any day and at any hour; and, should they so desire, the relatives or friends of a dying patient are allowed to remain with him without any limitation of time. With respect to the workhouse, there are certain rules laid down by the Guardians as to the visitation of inmates. The master is allowed a discretionary power of permitting a special visit to an inmate under exceptional circumstances on any day at a reasonable hour; but this would not extend to his allowing the friends of a particular inmate regularly to visit at times other than those allowed by the Guardians.