§ 3. Mr. Winnickasked the Minister of Health what further action he is taking to encourage unrestricted visiting by mothers to their very young children in hospital.
§ Mr. SnowReports received in 1966 showed that 85 per cent. of hospitals admitting children allowed either unrestricted visiting or visiting during eight or more hours a day. My Department has continued to urge the remainder to review their arrangements.
§ Mr. WinnickI appreciate that Answer that the majority of hospitals allow unrestricted visiting for mothers of young children. Could my hon. Friend put additional pressure on the hospitals refusing to do so? Does he agree that all the medical and psychological evidence supports the theory that there should be unrestricted visiting by parents?
§ Mr. SnowI think that my hon. Friend slightly exaggerates when he says "all medical opinion". I think that he will accept that there are certain cases and certain conditions where there are risks which should not be accentuated by visiting. But they are exceptional, and I accept my hon. Friend's general proposition that we should encourage progress as far as possible towards unrestricted visiting all round.