Maternity wards
Community Midwifery appointments
- Women should be informed that the buildings used for community midwifery appointments are not under the ownership of Doncaster and Bassetlaw hospitals and therefore the decision whether partners can attend appointments is not within our jurisdiction. We will continue to monitor the position closely and communicate any information as the situation changes. Pregnant women are recommended to undertake the twice weekly rapid lateral flow tests as recommended by the government prior to community appointments.
Hospital Antenatal appointments
- One birth supporter can attend all routine antenatal appointments including consultant appointments and ultrasound scans if they have received a negative result from a rapid swab test in the last 72 hours. This can be done by showing the e-mail or text message to the staff on arrival.
- The birth supporter must be asymptomatic.
- The birth supporter may not be able to remain in the waiting room and they may be asked to wait in another area before being called back at the appointment time. If the partner is unable to perform a lateral flow test the Covid questionnaire and temperature check must be undertaken.
Triage
- Women attending for review in this area will not be asked to provide evidence of a negative test, due to the urgent nature of attendance. Due to social distancing the birth supporter will be asked to wait in another area.
Antenatal Wards
Induction of labour
- ONE birth supporter can accompany the woman on admission for induction and stay for four hours, if they have received a negative result from a rapid swab test in the last 72 hours. This can be done by showing the e-mail or text message to the staff on arrival. If the birth supporter is unable to perform a lateral flow test the Covid questionnaire and temperature check must be undertaken.
- If the birth supporter is Covid positive they have a legal obligation to isolate and unfortunately will NOT be able to visit the hospital – in this situation women may allocate a new birth supporter but they need to be asymptomatic, provide evidence of negative lateral flow if they are a household contact or undergo a temperature check.
Visiting times.
- Only ONE named birth supporter can visit for 2 hours per day pre-arranged with the ward staff.
- Birth supporters must be asymptomatic.
- Birth supporters must have received a negative result from a rapid swab test in the last 72 hours and show proof.
Labour Wards
- Only ONE birth supporter can be with the woman if they have received a negative result from a rapid swab test in the last 72 hours.
- They must be asymptomatic
- If the birth supporter is positive they have a legal obligation to isolate and unfortunately will NOT be able to visit the hospital – in this situation women may allocate a new birth partner but they need to be asymptomatic provide evidence of negative lateral flow if they are a household contact.
- Under exceptional circumstances (IUFD) please discuss with on call Senior manager
- Under no circumstances will Covid positive partners be allowed into theatre – they should not be in the building.
Postnatal Wards
Elective caesarean sections.
- One birth supporter can attend for planned caesareans and will be asked to provide evidence of a negative test within the last 72 hours. This can be done by showing the e-mail or text message to the staff on arrival. If the birth supporter is unable to perform a lateral flow test the Covid questionnaire and temperature check must be done.
Visiting times.
- ONE named visitor can visit for 2 hours per day pre-arranged with the ward staff. They will need to have received a negative result from a rapid swab test in the last 72 hours.
- No visiting on day of discharge.
All visiting on the antenatal/postnatal wards
- A diary will be kept at the ward clerk station/office and a log kept of all booked appointments.
- All visitors must wear a face mask as soon as they enter the hospital and throughout their visit on the ward in line with the Government guidance.
- Visitors must stay in the mothers allotted bed space only and should not leave the ward.
- Visitors must only stay for their allotted time.
- Visiting will not take place during meal times.
- It is the responsibility of the midwife in charge to ensure that one set of visitors have left prior to other visitors entering the ward.