Click for the latest guidance surrounding visitation to Maternity and Neonatal Units.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have consistently supported women and birthing people in active labour at Lister Hospital to have their birthing partner present. We have continued to allow essential supporters such as carers, to attend appointments and scans at our hospitals, and to accompany women and birthing people in the antenatal or postnatal period as necessary. This is to ensure these women and birthing people can access their healthcare fairly.
We are pleased that we have maintained fair risk assessments and have worked closely with the Lister Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP) to make safe adjustments to our restrictions when possible, and to facilitate a support person for all pregnant individuals, where our hospital layout has allowed – in line with national guidance.
As part of the easing of restrictions, we recommend the use of rapid lateral flow testing twice a week for those who do not have any Covid-19 symptoms. This applies to pregnant individuals attending prenatal appointments/scans and nominated partners – there is more information about this in the rapid lateral flow testing section below.
Face masks must still to be worn in all areas of the maternity unit (unless exempt) when attending for appointments, this also applies to visitors, birthing and support partners.
Scans and antenatal appointments (before the birth), triage and DAU (Day Assessment Unit) attendance
Women and birthing people can now be accompanied by one nominated partner for all appointments and care at any of our hospitals.
The nominated partner must:
- Wait outside or within the limited waiting areas near the care units whilst the pregnant individual goes inside.
- Wear a face mask or covering when inside
- Wait to be contacted by their partner, when they are in an appropriate private space or ready to be assessed/reviewed
Please note: When attending triage, it may be possible for the pregnant individual to wait outside the designated waiting area, with their partner or support person, provided this is approved by staff and risk assessed on arrival.
Read our step-by-step guide to attending a 20-week (anomaly) scan in our publications section here
Antenatal ward for elective caesarean section / admitted for induction of labour
When admitted to the Dacre ward at Lister Hospital’s Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit, women and birthing people in our care can be accompanied by one nominated birth partner to an elective caesarean section (ELCS) bay, and remain with them in both theatre and recovery up until they are transferred to the postnatal ward (see the section below about postnatal ward visiting).
You can also be accompanied by one nominated birth partner when admitted to the Dacre ward at Lister Hospital’s Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit or when admitted for induction of labour (IOL), up until 9pm in the evening.
Please note, unfortunately we are currently not able to offer overnight stays (between 9pm and 9am) as our inpatient facilities are not suitable for this.
The nominated birth partner must:
- Not change (this person cannot be swapped to someone else)
- Wear the face mask provided at all times when outside the bed space area and when staff enter the bed space area
- Attend with the woman or person in our care when admitted to ELCS bay, and remain with them in theatre and recovery until they are transferred to the postnatal ward
- Attend and remain with the woman or person in our care when admitted to the IOL bay up until 9pm, when accompaniment finishes
- Not attend the midwives station and use the call bell instead (women and people can attend the midwives station)
- Only use the designated toilets
Active labour (CLU and MLU birth rooms)
One nominated birth partner has consistently been able to accompany the woman or person in our care during active labour.
A second nominated birth partner can now also be with them at the same time in birth rooms on our consultant-led unit (CLU) and midwife-led unit (MLU) at Lister Hospital’s Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit.
The two nominated birth partners must:
- Not change (these birth partners cannot be swapped to someone else)
- Wear the face mask provided
- Minimise movements in and out of the birth room
- Maintain social distancing where possible
Please note two nominated birth partners can attend in CLU and MLU birth rooms only. Due to social distancing and ventilation requirements, only one nominated partner can attend in induction, theatre, recovery and ward areas as stated on this page. The same also applies in scanning rooms, where one nominated person can attend.
Visiting guidance
Neonatal unit visiting:
In line with government guidance and regional recommendations, the neonatal unit has changed its visiting times:
From Sunday 19 June (Father’s Day), nominated birthing partners can attend between 9am and 9pm.
Additional visiting (siblings, grandparents)
Grandparents and siblings of the baby can attend between 2pm and 6pm.
We are not able to offer overnight stays as our inpatient facilities are not suitable for this.
Antenatal (before birth) and postnatal (after birth) ward visiting:
In line with government guidance and regional recommendations, the maternity unit has also changed its visiting times and will also be increasing visitation hours from Sunday 19 June (Father’s Day):
One nominated birth partner can attend the antenatal (Dacre) ward at Lister Hospital’s Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit between 9am and 9pm.
One nominated birth partner can attend the postnatal (Gloucester) ward between 9am and 9pm.
Additional visiting (siblings, grandparents)
Grandparents, nominated visitors and siblings of the baby can also attend between 2pm and 6pm.
We are not able to offer overnight stays as our inpatient facilities are not suitable for this.
The designated birth partner must:
- Not change (this person can not be swapped with someone else)
- Only attend between the hours listed above
- Wear a face mask at all times when outside the bed space area, and when staff enter this area. Please note, mask masks are provided upon entrance to the Lister Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit
- Remain in the designated space with the woman or birthing person in our care for the duration of their care
- Only use the designated toilets provided
Visitors must:
- Only attend between the hours of 2-6pm
- Wear a face mask at all times when outside the bed space area, and when staff enter this area. Please note, mask masks are provided upon entrance to the Lister Diamond Jubilee Maternity Unit
- Ensure there are only 2 guests at the bedside
- Remain in the designated space with the woman or birthing person in our care for the duration of their care
- Only use the designated toilets provided
Please be aware, refreshments will not be available on the ward.
Rapid lateral flow testing for Covid-19
Around 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 do not have symptoms.
Rapid lateral flow tests help to find cases in people who may have no symptoms but are still infectious and can give the virus to others.
We recommend that women and people attending prenatal appointments/scans, as well as their nominated partners and visitors, all test themselves twice a week if they can – preferably within 48 hours of attending. Women and people who are inpatients are tested for Covid-19 by the maternity team.
NHS England has provided frequently asked questions about rapid lateral flow testing which are available to read online.
Please note that East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust uses ‘nominated partner’ and ‘nominated birth partner’ when referring to the person chosen by the woman or person to accompany them at different stages of their maternity journey – rather than ‘support person’ and ‘support partner’ as stated in these FAQs.
Getting your rapid lateral flow tests
Free rapid lateral flow tests are no longer available for free for all through the gov.uk website. They are available to buy from pharmacies and supermarkets.
Zero tolerance to abuse
We ask you to adhere to these rules which are in place to keep everyone safe and be respectful to our staff – we have a zero tolerance policy towards abusive and intimidating behaviour.
Could this guidance change?
This guidance is subject to change if national guidance changes or if Covid-19 becomes more prevalent.
Further questions?
Please read the step-by-step guides available. You can also read our frequently asked questions.
If you have read these, but have further questions which haven’t been answered – please contact your community midwife.
