HOSPITAL RELAXES RESTRICTIONS ON PARTNERS ATTENDING LABOUR
Campaigner welcomes ‘phased’ changes
MOTHERS-TO-BE will now be allowed to have their partner by their side for their entire labour as the area’s largest hospital relaxes its Covid-19 restrictions.
Visiting times for antenatal and postnatal patients at the Royal Stoke University Hospital have also been extended from today.
The University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust says the changes represent a ‘phased approach’ to allowing birthing partners more access before, during and after the birth.
From today:
■ One birth partner can attend labour from admission and will no longer have to wait until established labour;
■ One partner can accompany expectant mums to the 20-week (anomaly) scan;
Women who are being induced may now bring their partner for one hour to ‘settle them in’ – although they will have to leave until the mum-to-be is transferred to delivery suite;
One partner will be permitted to visit for two hours per day, in both antenatal and postnatal wards, at staggered times.
The changes come after tight restrictions were put in place at maternity units in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
It meant birth partners were only allowed into the delivery room once women were in established labour, and pregnant women were asked to attend appointments and scans on their own.
Sharon Wallis, head of midwifery at UHNM, said: “I know it has been hard for those families affected by our visiting restrictions and that there will be disappointment that partners will not be able to attend all scans. But we are taking a phased approach so that we can evaluate and address any issues before we open up further.
“Obviously Covid-19 is still very much with us and our priority is to keep staff and patients safe and we will continue to do all we can to maintain and expand access.”
She added: “We have changed the visiting times in response to feedback from women whose partners are struggling with childcare. Our visiting hours enable partners with school age children to attend more easily.
“For women who have an elective Caesarean section in the morning, partners will be allowed to return later that day between 5pm and 6.30pm.”
The changes have been welcomed by mum-of-two Emma Payne, whose petition in response to the restrictions – which she started when she was 34 weeks’ pregnant – attracted 427,663 signatures earlier this year.
NHS 111 call hander Emma, who gave birth to her second daughter Ava in April, said: “It’s obviously a massive positive. I feel so relieved that people I know who are going to have a baby aren’t going to have to go through what we did. The stress and anxiety beforehand was the worst thing and so hopefully people can avoid that.
“I still think it has come too late. People have been able to go to the pub for months but partners have not been allowed in until the later stages of labour until now. The part I found most draining was the time leading up to that point, which was when I needed my husband there.
“I want to thank everyone who supported the petition. Hopefully women speaking out about this has helped get things moving.”
Visitors to the Royal Stoke will have to wear masks at all times, follow social distancing and PPE guidance as instructed by staff and use hand washing and sanitising facilities. Children are still not allowed to visit.
The Freestanding Midwifery Birth Unit (FMBU) at County Hospital in Stafford remains closed, although home births are now available.