I am sure you will be pleased to hear that hospitals have followed Government advice that they can relax restrictions on partners or family members attending maternity appointments.
I know this pandemic has caused undue stress for those who are pregnant and those who have experienced baby loss, as initially tough restrictions were widely put in place to protect and maintain core maternity services. I am grateful to all the midwives and doctors for keeping maternity services going during these exceptional times.
Like me, I am sure you will agree with the Prime Minister who said that it of the “upmost importance” that every hospital allows partners to be present in what are “incredibly special moments in people's lives”.
This issue has been brought into the spotlight thanks, in large part to a colleague of mine, Alicia Kearns MP, who is herself pregnant and has coordinated a brilliant campaign calling on local health leaders to get on with implementing new Government guidelines allowing family members to be present at scans and during labour. This point was raised by Marianne Griffiths, Chief Executive of our local hospital trust, which includes St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, during my call with her last week. She clearly understood the importance of having a support system present for scans and other procedures and reassured me that visitation rights, including for scans, within her hospitals, are permitted.
If you have concerns that a local clinic or hospital has not taken heed of the guidelines, please do get in touch and I will gladly make enquiries on your behalf.