Several health care centres across the country are considering 24-hour visiting hours, due to an effort by an advocacy group to include families “as partners in care.”

The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement announced the proposal Tuesday, stating that 50 Canadian hospital and healthcare organizations are reviewing their policies and some may come to consider 24/7 visiting hours.

One hundred hospitals have already done so.

Quebec healthcare centres considering the initiative are:

  • Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal (Notre Dame, Hotel Dieu, Saint Luc hospitals)
  • CIUSSS West Island (Grace Dart, St. Mary's, Ste. Anne's Hospital)
  • Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montéregie-Est
  • Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-de-Québec
  • Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais

“We knew that providers, patients and families would have questions," said CFHI President Maureen O'Neil.

"Would there be too much noise? Would other patients and staff be bothered? Yet, what we have found is that these concerns haven't materialized and instead family presence has enabled loved ones to be part of the decision-making process, especially during physician rounds and helping transition from hospital to home."

CFHI said that in a poll it conducted in 2015, 90 per cent of Canadians supported family presence policies.

Supported by patients

Nathalie Tousignant had family members spend day and night with her during a month-long hospital stay.

She appreciated the support.

"It makes you feel reassured. It makes you feel like you're not alone," said Tousignant.

That's one reason the CHUM superhospital will include space for family when it opens.

Spokesperson Anne-Marie Jacques said patients will be able to designate one person to stay overnight.

The policy on the books at the MUHC is that visitors are permitted from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., but this can be varied according to patient needs.

The rooms at the Glen site were actually designed so that family members could stay with children, in the birthing centre, or in the long-term care facility.

There are, however, limits, such as in the trauma centre or when highly contagious diseases are a concern.