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Due to the current Global situation and the increasing need to protect our patients and staff, changes are happening in Maternity Services at Barnsley, following Trust Guidance. This information could be regularly subject to change and is for the safety of all concerned.
We want to provide clear information for all areas of maternity services.
We appreciate that during pregnancy, birth and beyond are the times when women and their families need our support most and we are committed to providing safe compassionate and supportive maternity care.
To help us to help you please continue to monitor;
- Facebook – Barnsley Hospital Facebook page
- Facebook – Barnsley Hospital E-Midwife page
- Facebook – Barnsley Maternity Voices Partnership page
Ultrasound Scan Appointments
You can now be supported by one partner for the duration of all of your ultrasound scans in the maternity ultrasound department and with the midwife sonographer. Unfortunately, children cannot accompany you at this appointment.
We ask that you check in at our reception area alone, partners are asked to wait outside the hospital building until the sonographer is ready to undertake your scan. This is because our reception area does not have capacity to ensure social distancing policies are adhered to.
Masks or face shields should be worn by all unless exempt.
Community Midwifery appointments
You can have one partner attend your appointments with you depending on the policy that the GP surgery or Children’s Centre follow. These areas are not regulated by Barnsley Hospital so please check with your community midwife before your appointment.
Antenatal Clinic, Antenatal Day Unit appointments
Women can be supported at all Antenatal Clinic and Antenatal Day Unit appointments (as well as ultrasound scan appointments) by one partner. Currently, children are not able to accompany you at this appointment.
We ask that you check in at our reception area alone. We ask that your partner wait outside the hospital building until you are called into your consultation with a doctor to maintain social distancing measures.
Whilst in Antenatal Clinic, you are sometimes required to see more than one health professional, Maternity Support Worker, Midwife and/or Doctor. The health professional will advise you when to call your partner to attend the clinical area to support you during the consultation.
To help us avoid any unavoidable delays in our clinics please could we ask that your support partner remains as close as possible to the maternity unit in order to attend your appointment promptly.
Antenatal Postnatal ward – Visiting
One birth partner can visit the ward openly between 10am and 8pm, but must be symptom free of COVID-19. No swapping of visitors or children are permitted onto the ward. Masks or face shields must be worn throughout by visitors, especially when walking through the ward.
Antenatal Postnatal ward – Elective Caesarean Section
We continue to actively encourage birth partners attendance for women having elective caesareans. One birth partner can openly visit the ward between 10am and 8pm. Masks or face shields must be worn throughout.
It is recommended that your birthing partner is symptom free of COVID-19, but please inform your midwife prior to attending hospital if your birthing partner is symptomatic or positive for COVID-19.
Birthing Centre
Two birthing partners are permitted when admitted onto the birthing centre in established labour or as part of an ongoing induction of labour.
Masks or face shields must be worn throughout by both birthing partners.
It is recommended that both birthing partners are symptom free of COVID-19, but please inform your midwife prior to attending hospital if your birthing partner is symptomatic or positive for COVID-19.
Community Midwifery Home Visits
We ask that there are no visitors in the house during home visits by the Community Midwives/Maternity Support Workers.
Please be aware this is guidance and can be changed at any point. We will keep you informed at every step of the way if we need to make changes to any of the outlined above.
We appreciate your understanding at this testing and uncertain time for us all, we hope you understand the decisions that are being made around keeping loved ones safe.