Patient survey: A midlands hospital is to restrict visiting times in its maternity unit after new mothers said they wanted time to rest and bond for themselves and their children.
A survey of maternity patients at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, found that 89 per cent of new mothers were in favour of a visitor-restricted period. From yesterday, visiting has been banned at the maternity unit from 1pm to 4pm daily. Would-be well-wishers have been asked to arrange for visits at alternative hours.
A hospital spokeswoman said the rest time was "in line with evidence-based, best midwifery practice, to allow a dedicated period of rest for both mothers and babies."
Terri Cotter, clinical midwife specialist at the hospital, who developed the questionnaire used in the survey, said: "Rest time is promoted by all maternity hospitals to curtail the number of visitors and to facilitate rest for mothers after childbirth."