Review of policy on partners staying in maternity wards
New Zealand’s maternity wards and staffing have come under the spotlight after mothers spoke up about what they described as a lack of support and communication during and after birth.
The women said understaffed and overworked maternity wards meant they felt care and support from medical staff was lacking. Meanwhile, partners or support people were not allowed to stay on the ward overnight.
Capital & Coast DHB is reviewing its policy, which was put in place in February 2015.
Mary-Lou Harris raised the visitor issue when speaking to Radio NZ about her experience at Wellington Hospital earlier this month.
This prompted other mothers to voice similar concerns.
Meanwhile, district health boards say they only allow support people to stay under special circumstances because of issues around domestic violence and other patients’ privacy.
DHBs across the country have specific policies on when partners or support people can stay overnight.
CCDHB’s policy stated it was not routine for support people, including partners, to stay overnight in the Women’s Health Service (WHS) but there were some situations in which it would be useful for mothers to have additional support.
In order for support people to stay, a formal request had to be made and be approved by the managing nurse or midwife, there must be a valid medical reason, the woman must be in a single room, the woman must consent to the person staying, and family violence screening must have been carried out by the woman’s lead maternity carer (LMC).
Medical reasons included multiple births, a disability, a significant mental health issue, if the mother is under-16, if the mother doesn’t speak English, or if the baby is critically unwell.
The request form provided to women who wished for people to stay points out privacy matters relating to other women on the ward and the use of bathrooms.
The form sets out a list of tasks the support person should help with, including feeding, changing and settling the baby.
And, it said partners would not be permitted to stay if they were intoxicated.
‘‘CCDHB is committed to providing safety for patients and workplace safety for staff therefore any unacceptable behaviour or abuse will not be tolerated.’’
When considering a request to have a support person stay, staff must also consider the needs of other women in the ward, CCDHB executive director of nursing and midwifery Andrea McCance said.
The DHB’s policy was developed in 2001 and had been reviewed and amended, where required, seven times.
The clinical leader obstetrics, associate director of midwifery, operations manager, staff and LMCs were involved in the reviews, McCance said.
‘‘[The review] was delayed to enable us to look at arrangements at other units – including small primary birthing facilities – around the country, and to consult with consumers.’’
The review is expected to be completed by June.
‘‘In a hospital environment, it is important to maintain sufficient space, privacy, and a restful environment in the clinical area,’’ she said.
Other DHBs have similar policies to protect the safety and privacy of patients and staff.
Waikato DHB has a blanket policy relating to overnight visitors for all its facilities, which echoed CCDHB’s. Its criteria on people staying were also along the same lines. Its policy was issued last month and is due to be reviewed in February 2019.
It states: ‘‘The main concern when finalising our decision on who is permitted to stay with the mother overnight, is the consideration of family violence (or interpersonal violence) and the safety of other women on the ward who feel safer in an all-women environment at night.’’
However, its postnatal ward pamphlet states ‘‘partners cannot stay overnight unless in special circumstances; after discussion with the charge midwife or the ward co-ordinator’’.
Other major DHBs were contacted for comment.
"[The review] was delayed to enable us to look at arrangements at other units ... and to consult with consumers." Andrea McCance, Capital & Coast DHB