"Lack of compassion"

I write for a friend and their elderly parent who recently had an unpleasant experience at Busselton Hospital while visiting their adult child, a person with a debilitating and life-limiting condition who is receiving palliative care.

This is my understanding of the event as reported by my friend's parent. The patient, a Bunbury resident, had been initially admitted to the SJOG Bunbury Palliative Care Unit, then transferred to a different hospital for care awaiting placement. The staff at that hospital were caring, however, family and friends were not able to visit as often as they wanted to from Bunbury. My friend was transferred to Busselton Hospital to be closer to Bunbury. My friend's parent no longer drives and is dependent upon family to visit. 

Recently, my friend's parent and their sibling visited my friend. During the visit, two more friends arrived for a visit. At the time I understand that the family were discussing my friend's housing and possible future care arrangements.

The two new visitors were followed into the room by a hospital employee (initially thought to be a nurse but may have been a PCA/orderly), who advised that only two people could visit at one time. My friend's parent asked if they could stay to continue the discussion, hoping to seek input from one of the new visitors.

The hospital employee reiterated that only two visitors were allowed at one time in what I understand was a brusque and authoritarian manner. The interaction continued with my friend's parent eventually advising that they would leave.

During the discussion, the hospital employee told the parent that they had already visited earlier in the week, oh and there is washing for you to take home. My friend's elderly parent left in tears. 

Where was the compassion in this instance? The employee from the commencement of the discussion seemingly came with a clear intention and was not prepared to hear. While I understand the need for visiting hours, the Busselton Hospital visiting hours at the time between 3.00 and 8.00 pm are very restrictive in my opinion. There doesn't seem to be any consideration for patients and their families who are receiving care awaiting placement when family and friends need to travel from home to another community. I also question the strict restriction on visitors for a person who is in a single room who by all accounts is waiting to die. Surely if the stringent rule is to be followed, it could have been administered in a more caring, respectful and compassionate manner. 

My friend's parent is an amazing and independent person, they are supporting their adult child who has made a decision for palliative care, and may well die before their parent. It takes a lot for them to be bought to tears.

My friend's parent is available to discuss this unfortunate incident.