VANCOUVER, BC — The Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) changed visiting hours at its hospitals to allow people to see patients at all hours. Staff members are concerned that the new policies could affect safety and security in the facilities.
Mike Old, a union spokesperson, said the Hospital Employee’s Union wasn’t given advanced notice of the changes, the Nanaimo News Bulletin reports. The visiting hours were changed at all of VIHA’s hospitals in June after a test period at Victoria General Hospital.
Staff members are concerned that there will not be enough people on duty monitor visitors, and that nighttime visitors will disturb patients who need rest to recover.
The matter will be discussed at the Pacific Rim B.C. Nurses Union regional meeting at the end of this month.
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