Children Could Have Legal Right to Have Parent Present While in Hospital

Bratislava, 3 June (TASR) - Starting from September, children in Slovakia should have the right to be with an accompanying person during hospitalisation, Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) stated at a press conference on Tuesday. The change is to be approved as part of a package of school laws, while the amendment also includes expert guidance to ensure uniform application of the right in hospitals. Sasko added that the proposal was agreed upon by both professional and political representatives. "So in practice, as of 1 September, what will apply is that the accompanying person will not be a visitor, they will be able to be with the child and not just during visiting hours. He or she will assist and reassure the child during all the pre-operative examinations and also after the surgery. During the surgery, of course, their presence will be limited, taking into account the circumstances and the child's health and condition," said the minister. Sasko added that if the facility doesn't have the capacity to accommodate the parent, it will have to provide at least a chair at the child's bedside. Likewise, if a parent doesn't have the money to pay for fees or protective equipment, this shouldn't be a reason to deny the parent's presence. The minister further pointed out that the hospital will also not be able to decide whether the mother or father will be with the child. "If the parents don't agree, their presence can be denied by the doctor if it won't benefit the child itself," he said, adding that the presence of an accompanying person will also be affected by the rules of the hospitals' internal regulations. am