Hong Kong public hospitals will extend visiting hours at all rehabilitation and palliative wards from five to nine hours a day by the end of July, with those in central Kowloon and New Territories West expected to roll out the arrangement this month.

Danny Tong Wah-kun, the Hospital Authority’s chief manager of nursing, said the authority would also enable round-the-clock visits at all paediatric wards by the end of July, adding to an existing arrangement for one carer to stay overnight in hospital with child patients.

“This flexible arrangement will be able to holistically respond to patients and their families’ needs, allow more leeway and flexibility for families to take care of patients and bolster emotional support,” Tong said.

Visiting hours across the city’s public hospital wards are currently capped at roughly four hours a day, split between two-hour windows at noon and in the evening. Rehabilitation and palliative wards currently allow five to six hours of visiting per day.

For paediatric wards, one carer is currently permitted to stay overnight with a child patient. Under the new arrangement, up to two family members will be able to make short visits at any time as well.

Hospitals in two districts will implement longer visiting hours this month. The Kowloon Central cluster, which includes major hospitals such as Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Kwong Wah Hospital, will extend visiting hours from May 2.