New rules on how long partners can spend with women giving birth at Wigan Infirmary

Wigan's hospital bosses have made the "unprecedented decision" to limit the amount of time a birth partner can spend with an expectant mother.
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Due to the rising number of coronavirus infections in the borough, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has announced new guidance for its maternity department.

Pregnant women are initially being asked to attend the delivery suite alone and their birth partner will be allowed to join them once active labour has been confirmed.

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After the birth, the partner can remain on the delivery suite until mother and baby are transferred to the maternity ward. The trust says there is no time limit on this and the "utmost consideration" will be given to allowing partners to spend those "precious first hours" with the newborn.

All birth partners must wear a mask, have their temperature checked to ensure it is below 37.8 degrees Celsius, keep movement in and out of the delivery suite to a minimum and follow social distancing guidelines.

Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus, or who has been self-isolating, must not attend.

A trust spokesman said: "The maternity service has supported visiting for birth partners throughout the pandemic, however the current surge that is being experienced and the need to reduce the risk to mothers, babies and staff in order to keep them safe has led to this unprecedented decision, which will be rescinded as soon as it is safe to do so."

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