Wait goes on for partners wishing to join pregnant women for scans and births at Wigan Infirmary

Last month the NHS published new guidance stating mothers-to-be in England should 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 had previously 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.

Now several weeks later, a spokesman for Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the borough’s hospitals, says it is still “working to address the recommendations”.

She said: “The maternity service at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust is working closely with our local and national partner agencies to ensure our patients, public and staff remain safe throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We acknowledge that new guidance has been published with regards to visiting restrictions across maternity services and we are actively working to address the recommendations that have been made.

“We would like to reassure our patients and public that any changes to visiting restrictions across the maternity service will be amended as soon as it is safe to do so in line with Government guidance.”

Under the trust’s current rules, women are 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 in the delivery suite until mother and baby are transferred to the maternity ward.

In the meantime, a telephone helpline has been set up for anyone with questions about giving birth at the hospital.

The spokesman said: “We realise that this is a worrying time for pregnant women and their families and, to allow us to answer any questions or concerns in relation to attending hospital to give birth, a dedicated maternity helpline has been set up which is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 01942 778616.

For any out-of-hours concerns please contact the delivery suite on 01942 778505 or 778709 and ask for the shift co-ordinator.”

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