Briefing on Visitor’s Policy to Wards (8 February 2010)

Frequently asked questions

1. Why are we restricting our visiting hours and imposing a limit to

the number of visitors to the ward?

At Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the needs of our patients come first and our
patient’s health and treatment are important to us. It is also our duty to ensure
that patients have enough privacy and rest time for a speedy recovery.

The hospital is maintaining a 4-visitor rule for every patient as we have

received feedback from both our visitors and patients that it has been
beneficial for our patients as it provides them with better rest and recovery.

We recognize that our visitors and family members are important in our
patient’s recovery journey and want to provide them with adequate
engagement opportunities with our staff. The visitor limitation will therefore
help to facilitate such opportunities.

Our wards are also shared spaces and would like to seek your kind
understanding and support in respecting this space and making our patients’
stay more comfortable.

2. Why have you imposed a restriction on the visiting hours?

The hospital is a place for our patients to rest and recover, by restricting the
hours it allows our medical team to better observe and attend to our patients
needs.

Visiting hours are meal times which is also the time where our patients are
awake, and thus it is most appropriate for visitors to come in during these
timings.

3. Why are you so strict on the policy where other “better” hospitals
are no longer managing visitors?

At Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the needs of our patients come first and our
patient’s health and treatment are important to us. It is also our duty to ensure
that have enough privacy and rest time for a speedy recovery.

The hospital is maintaining a 4-visitor rule for every patient as we have

received feedback from both our visitors and patients that it has been
beneficial for our patients as it provides them with better rest and recovery.

We recognize that our visitors and family members are important in our
patient’s recovery journey and want to provide them with adequate

1
engagement opportunities with our staff. The visitor limitation will therefore
help to facilitate such opportunities.

Further, our wards are also shared spaces and would like to seek your kind
understanding and support in respecting this space and making our patients’
stay more comfortable.

4. Do you think by limiting number of visitors and visiting hours will

be effective in patient care?

At Tan Tock Seng Hospital believes in engaging our patients and their family
members for their feedback.

Feedback gathered from our patients and visitors has indicated that limiting
the number of visitors and visiting hours has been beneficial to them as it
provides them with better rest and recovery.

We seek your kind understanding and cooperation in helping us make our

patients’ stay more comfortable.

5. Other beds having more than 4 visitors, why can’t I go up?

We stand firm by our rule of 4 visitors for every patient.

However, on a case-by-case basis such as when the patient is critically ill,

doctors will seek approval on compassionate grounds to allow more visitors to
visit the patient.

We seek your kind understanding.

6. Why Class A ward allow more visitors and ICU is limiting to only 4
visitors?

In Class A wards, patients are individually warded as such it is able to

accommodate more visitors without disrupting other patient’s rest. However,
we would still encourage limiting to 4 visitors at any one time, as patient rest is
vital for speedier recovery.

ICU is like any other wards which are to adhere to 4 visitors for every patient.
In addition, patients in ICU generally have a lower immunity and require
intensive care thus the stronger need to enforce the rules.

We seek for your kind understanding and cooperation.

2
 7. Is the hospital going to be responsible if something happens to
the patient?

Tan Tock Seng Hospital will continue to do her best to ensure the health and
safety of our patients and that ensure proper care is accorded to each patient.

You are important in helping your loved ones recover, and would appreciate
your understanding and cooperation to visit only during visiting hours as our
patients need their rest.

Should there be a need, our staff and doctors will contact you.

8. The system already has my records, why do I need to register

everyday?

This is to help us manage the number of visitors to the hospital and wards
daily. We are in the midst of improving our systems to improve visitors’
experience.

Thank you for your feedback.

9. Why must I change the colour of the sticker in the afternoon and
register again?

This is to help us manage the number of visitors to the hospital and wards
during visiting hours. We are in the midst of improving our systems to improve
visitors’ experience.

Thank you for your feedback.