Review of maternity rules so partners can join Wigan women as they give birth

It had been left to individual health trusts to draw up rules on whether a partner could be present during the pandemic, leaving many woman having to give birth alone.

At Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, women are currently asked to attend the delivery suite alone and their birth partner will be allowed to join them once active labour is confirmed.

After the birth, the partner can remain on the delivery suite until mother and baby are transferred to the maternity ward.

Now, under new guidance published by the NHS, trusts have been requested to review their current rules.

It means mothers-to-be in England will be permitted to have one person beside them “at all stages of her maternity journey” and attend appointments as long as the support partner is not showing any Covid-19 symptoms.

It said: “Pregnant women value the support from a partner, relative, friend or other person through pregnancy and childbirth as it facilitates emotional wellbeing and is a key component of safe and personalised maternity care.

“It is, therefore, our aim, further to a risk assessment, that a woman should have access to support from a person of her choosing at all stages of her maternity journey and that all trusts should facilitate this as quickly as possible.”

Health bosses have been asked to undertake a risk assessment in -their maternity service with the aim of identifying if there is an “elevated risk of Covid-19 transmission if support people are present”.

They have also been told to address issues highlighted in the risk assessment, such as making changes to the configuration of space, “alongside provision of other appropriate infection prevention and control measures, including training and PPE (personal protective equipment)”.

The guidance added: “Many trusts have already found creative solutions to overcome remaining challenges and they have maximised the support that pregnant women can receive throughout their pregnancy. It is important now that all trusts do this.

“We are asking all trust boards to urgently complete any further action needed so that partners can accompany women to all appointments and throughout birth.”

A trust spokesman said: "Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust would like to reassure our patients and public that any changes to visiting restriction restrictions across the maternity service will be regularly reviewed and will be amended as soon as it is safe to do so in line with Government guidance."

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