Maternity Services visiting (Covid-19)

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.

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.

As of 0.01am on Monday 2 May 2022, visiting within maternity services will be as follows:

Antenatal and postnatal:

• There will be two visitors allowed on the ward. Patients’ children over the age of one year will be allowed to visit also.
• Visiting hours will be from 10am until 8pm. Meal times will be protected with no visiting between 12pm to 1pm and 5pm to 6pm.
• One birthing partner will be able to stay overnight in a chair to support their relative on the antenatal and postnatal ward. This is at the discretion of the midwife in charge.

It is our expectation that all visitors who are able to wear a mask over the age of 12 will do so. Any symptoms of COVID-19 or if the visitor feels unwell they will be advised not to attend.

Antenatal clinic

Two birth partners and patients own children over the age of one are able to accompany to Antenatal appointment (not including scan).

Triage

One birth partner only will be able to attend the triage assessment unit.

Labour ward Areas

Two birth partners will be allowed to attend during labour.

All visiting restrictions

Can be viewed here: https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/

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