Pregnant women face ‘cruel’ rules a year after restrictions were lifted

PARTNERS of pregnant women have been ordered by some hospitals to sit in separate waiting rooms in ‘unnecessary’ Covid restrictions, The Mail on Sunday has learnt.

One father-to-be who went through this in Luton last week said it is done to ‘dissuade’ anyone accompanying women.

He and his partner were attending an early six-week scan, which is often booked when there are concerns about complications. He told the MoS: ‘It seems cruel to keep couples apart just as they are at their most nervous.’

This newspaper’s Lone Births campaign highlighted the plight of pregnant women forced to attend appointments and labour alone due to Covid restrictions. A year ago, official guidance made it clear hospital trusts should find ‘creative solutions’ to ensure women had support at ‘all stages’ of pregnancy and labour.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital and Bedford Hospital Maternity Units, said last week it changed its rules to allow partners to sit in the same waiting area as expecting mothers, but added there ‘may have been a slight delay for the changes to be implemented’.

A spokesman said: ‘We do sincerely apologise for any upset or confusion this may have caused.’