20. Admission and Maintenance of Patients
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(1) Applicants for admission to the Victoria Hospital shall be seen at the dispensary by the Resident Surgeon between the hours of 9 and 11 a.m. However, in cases of accident or serious illness, urgently requiring attention, the Resident Surgeon shall see and attend to the same at the earliest possible moment.
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(2) The Resident Surgeon shall examine and satisfy himself or herself as to the fitness for Victoria Hospital treatment of every case applying for admission.
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(3) Only the following cases shall be eligible for admission—
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(a) accident cases, where the injury is serious;
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(b) cases requiring surgical treatment;
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(c) cases of serious illness, requiring definite Victoria Hospital attention and nursing;
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(d) cases of acute or chronic disease likely to be materially benefited by Victoria Hospital treatment.
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(4) The following cases shall be treated and maintained in the Victoria Hospital free of charge—
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(a) seamen employed on ships in port, on certificate of the harbour master that such is the case (section 13 of Harbour of Castries Act);
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(b) persons who are “paupers”;
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(c) workers' children under 10 years of age;
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(d) workers over 60 years of age;
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(e) women “workers” when admitted to the Maternity Ward;
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(f) members of the nursing staff of Saint Lucia.
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In this rule “pauper” and “worker” have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Medical Officers Act.
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(5) In the application of rules 20(3) and 20(4) the Resident Surgeon may, except in cases of urgency, decline to admit for free treatment and maintenance any person who does not produce a certificate from a poor relief officer that such person comes under rule 20(4)(b), (c), (d) or (e).
When the Resident Surgeon admits any person with such certificate he or she shall immediately report the admission to the Commissioner of Police for inquiry as to the condition of the person.
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(6) A patient shall not be admitted who is suffering from contagious or infectious disease likely to prove dangerous to other patients.
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(7) Police officers will be admitted and their maintenance met, as provided by the Police Act.
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(8) Distressed seamen and seamen discharged from vessels in port may be admitted on written application to the Resident Surgeon by the Harbour Master or the Consul of the nation to which such seamen belong, at a charge of $0.60 per day. If special accommodation and treatment is desired, special rates will be charged and must be arranged and agreed to at time of admission.
Officers and men of H.M. Forces, and officers and men of the Merchant Navy not provided for in rule 20(8) should pay at the rate herein specified—
| | Rate per diem. |
| | $ | ¢ |
| (a) | officers | 1 | 60 |
| (b) | chief and petty officers | 1 | 28 |
| (c) | warrant officers | 1 | 12 |
| (d) | staff-sergeants | 1 | 12 |
| (e) | full rank nco's | | 96 |
| (f) | lance-corporals | | 64 |
| (g) | other ratings and ranks | | 32 |
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(9)
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(a) Other cases shall be divided into the following 4 classes, and when admitted, shall be charged the rate herein specified:
| Description of Person. | Rate per diem. |
| | $ | ¢ |
| I. | medical practitioners | 1 | 60 |
| ministers of religion | 1 | 60 |
| II. | managers, storekeepers, etc. | 1 | 28 |
| III. | overseers, store-clerks, etc. | | 64 |
| IV. | artisans, small proprietors | | 32 |
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(b) Except in cases of urgency the Resident Surgeon shall not admit any such person without a certificate from a medical practitioner to the effect that he or she considers the case a fit one for admission, and stating the class in which he or she thinks such person should be placed for payment;
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(c) Subject to the approval and the directions of the Chief Medical Officer, surgeons other than the Resident Surgeon may be permitted to perform operations at the Victoria Hospital.
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(10) A person shall not be admitted as an indoor patient or remain in Victoria Hospital when he or she can be satisfactorily treated as an outdoor case.
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(11) All patients shall conform to the instructions for their guidance as set out in Schedule 2 to these Rules.
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(12) All sums due by a patient shall be paid either to the Steward or the Director of Finance and Planning upon the day of the patient's discharge. However, where the stay of the patient in Victoria Hospital has been prolonged, the Resident Surgeon may recommend by minute to the Governor General such reduction of the charge as, having regard to any circumstances within his knowledge, he or she may consider it right to do.
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(13) A surgical operation shall not be performed without the full consent of the patient (if over age) or without the consent of the parents or guardians or those responsible in the case of patients under age or where the patient is incapable of signifying his or her assent.
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(14) The co-operation of a medical practitioner is to be obtained whenever possible by the Resident Surgeon for the giving of anaesthetics.
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(15) Patients may receive visitors without a special permission on the day and at the time fixed hereunder—
| General Wards: | 12.30 p.m.—1.00 p.m. | | daily |
| 5.00 p.m.—6.00 p.m. | |
| except on Wednesday and Sunday which will be at |
| 2.00 p.m.—4.00 p.m. |
| Baron Wing: | 11.30 a.m.—12.00 noon |
| 4.00 p.m.—7.00 p.m. |
The medical superintendent and the surgeon specialist shall nevertheless have full discretionary power in the matter of permitting or disallowing visitors to any patient.
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(16) In urgent circumstances a patient may be allowed to receive visitors on any day and at such times as may be permitted by the medical superintendent or the surgeon specialist.
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(17) Visitors shall refrain from making a noise or behaving in such a manner as to disturb the order and quiet of the institution. the nurse in charge shall report to the Matron or the Steward any breach of this rule, and any offending visitor is liable to be peremptorily ejected from the premises.
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(18) Ministers of religion may, at any convenient time, visit patients of their denominations in the wards (subject, however to the power of the Resident Surgeon to withhold sanction for such visit on medical grounds, if he or she thinks proper), if they inform the Matron or other person in charge, of their purpose.
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(19) The diet scale for patients shall be as set out in Schedule 3 to these Rules.
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(20) A copy of the diet scale shall be hung up in each ward.
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(21) Meals shall be served at the hours stated in such Scale.
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(22) On the death of a patient the Steward shall, by telephone to the police or otherwise, forward a message to the nearest relative of the deceased living in the island, for which purpose the name and residence of such relative will be ascertained and recorded on the admission of the patient.
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(23) The relatives and friends of a deceased patient of any class shall be permitted to provide a coffin, remove the body, and do all things necessary for interment.
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(24) An autopsy shall not be performed against the wish of the nearest relative unless ordered by the coroner.
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(Amended by S.I. 37/1964)