Dogs and other animals should be allowed into hospitals to help patients recover, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has said.

英国皇家护理学院的发言人称，人们应该允许犬类等动物进入医院帮助病人恢复健康。

The organisation is drawing up guidelines for medical institutions on how to use animal therapy safely and effectively, so all patients who might benefit are able to access it.

为了能让所有适合的患者从中受益，该机构正在起草指南，指导医疗机构安全有效的运用动物康复法。

Amanda Cheesley, who is leading the initiative, said the new protocol would require animals and their handlers to be properly trained and cover basics such health check-ups and inoculation.

这项新疗法的带头人，Amanda Cheesley称，草案将对实施资料的动物及其饲养者提出相关要求，通过基本的身体检查，接种疫苗并参加合适的培训。

“It should be more of the norm rather than the exception. In particular settings, like mental health and children’s settings, it can be really, really beneficial,” she told The Independent.

“这种疗法应该成为一种常态，而不是个例。在精神科和儿科等特定的领域，它将大有所为。”

Of the more than 750 nurses who took part in the survey, nine out of 10 said they believed animals could improve the wellbeing of patients with mental health problems such as depression, and 60 per cent thought the presence of animals could help speed up physical recovery.

在超过750名参与调查的护士中，十有八九都声称，他们相信动物能改善精神病患者的健康状况，例如抑郁症患者。60%的护士认为动物能加速病患身体康复的速度。

While few robust scientific studies have been carried out into the benefits of animal-assisted therapy, it has been growing in popularity in the US and Australia, and research has shown that keeping a pet is linked to lower blood pressure.

在动物辅助康复疗法的益处这个领域上还鲜有显著的科学研究成果。不过这一疗法已经在美国和澳大利亚得到了越来越广泛的应用。同时还有研究显示，饲养宠物与较低的血压之间存在着联系。

（翻译：小木）