From Wednesday 9th June 2021, the following changes will take place within Maternity services in Doncaster and Bassetlaw.
The prevalence of COVID-19 in the community is currently low (May 2021).
The Government has announced that twice weekly rapid (lateral flow) testing is available to everybody. Pregnant women and their birth partner are advised to take up this opportunity and test twice weekly during pregnancy. This will help make sure that any COVID infection is picked up early and managed.
- Women, and any accompanying support partner, should self-administer a COVID test within 72 hours before a planned appointment.
- The test will need to be taken at home prior to you and your support partner attending. Tests are widely available to be collected from local pharmacies in Doncaster and Bassetlaw. Once the test has been undertaken you should register the result here https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result and the result can be shown to a staff member either in a text or email on arrival to hospital.
- If for any reason a negative test result cannot be shown to a staff member, the birth partner will be asked Covid-19 screening questions and a temperature check done prior to admission.
- All visitors must wear a mask (unless exempt) and observe social distancing at all times.
- Visitors are requested to remain in the woman’s bed space at all times.
- Please note, all visiting slots must be pre-arranged with ward staff.
A birth partner plus one additional person can now visit on the wards and attend in labour.
See below for further information:
Maternity wards
Antenatal Wards
- Ward visiting times. Your birthing partner and one other visitor can visit for 2 hours per day pre-arranged with the ward staff. This must be at the same time. If the 2nd visitor cannot show a negative swab, only the birth partner will be allowed in.
- Induction of labour. One birth supporter can accompany you on admission for your induction and stay for up to 4 hours, if they have received a negative result from a rapid swab test in the last 72 hours. However, if for any reason a negative result cannot be shown a temperature check will be done on arrival. If normal you will be able to stay for 2 hours as per standard visiting.
Labour Wards
- Two birth supporters can be with you if they have both received a negative result from a rapid swab test in the last 72 hours. If a negative test result cannot be shown by the 2nd birth partner then only the 1st birth partner will be allowed in after having a temperature check.
Postnatal Wards
- Ward visiting times. Your birthing partner and one other visitor can visit for 2 hours per day pre-arranged with the ward staff. This must be at the same time. They will both need to have received a negative result from a rapid swab test in the last 72 hours. If the 2nd visitor cannot show a negative swab result, only the birth partner will be allowed in.
- Elective caesarean sections. One birth partner can attend for planned caesareans and will be asked to provide evidence of a negative test within the last 72 hours. However, if for any reason a negative result cannot be shown a temperature check will be done on arrival.
Antenatal and Scanning services
Partners can accompany mums to any pregnancy scans and hospital clinic appointments. We ask that both the mum and partner follow these terms:
- Only one adult partner can accompany during the scan (please note: If you attend with children your partner will be asked to wait outside with them, if you attend alone you will be rebooked at a later date).
- You must arrive no more than 10 minutes prior to scan appointment time. If you arrive too early you may be asked to wait outside due to social distancing measures.
- You must wait in the area provided until called for your scan. Partners must also wait where requested until called.
- Ensure you have a mobile phone with you so that you can communicate with the attending partner to join you just prior to going into scan appointment. You will be informed of this process on arrival.
- When entering the scan room the accompanying adult will be advised where they can sit. They should not move from this area during the scan.
- Filming or phone use is not permitted during the scan under any circumstances.
- If you want to find out the sex of your baby, this can be done at the end of the 20 week anomaly scan. The expectant mum will be informed verbally and will not be written down.
- Failure to adhere to the above principles may result in partners being asked to leave the department and could result in your scan being cancelled.
Community Midwifery appointments
Unfortunately, at this time, we are unable to make any changes to partners attending appointments in community settings, as the buildings are not under the ownership of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals. We will however continue to monitor this position closely and will communicate any information as the situation changes.
Triage
Unfortunately, there are no changes to current restrictions in Triage due to social distancing measures still in place.