Key messages about maternity services during COVID-19
We want to reassure you that you are not alone in your pregnancy and that we are still here to help and support you throughout your pregnancy to parenthood journey.
As you are aware Covid-19 presents a significant challenge to the NHS. The health, wellbeing and safety of everyone accessing and working in maternity services is our utmost priority. In a rapidly changing situation, the care we provide is guided by national evidence for safest practice as this becomes available.
In our maternity services and the wider hospital, we are minimising all face to face contact appointments including obstetric clinic appointments and canceling all group appointments such as antenatal preparation. In addition, we are making amendments in our community services to limit non-urgent face to face contacts between women and our midwives. Your midwife will be in contact with you and will continue to provide support and virtual consultation with face to face visits provided when necessary and will provide information on antenatal education and all other aspects of maternity care.
As part of the social distancing strategy to protect staff and patients, the public are being asked to limit visitors. In line with national guidance we have taken the decision to restrict birth partners to one per woman at this time. We know how disappointing this will be for everyone and want to reassure you that the midwives and maternity team are focused on supporting you and your birth partner through your pregnancy, birth and following the birth of your baby.
If required, your partner can drive you to your appointment and wait in the car for you.
To enable us to ensure that you have the most up to date information for care within the area that you live we encourage all pregnant women, mums and partners to access your local hospitals website. Here you will find up to date information relating to important issues such as visiting policies, birth partners and contact numbers if you have any concerns. Contact numbers are also available on these websites. Please do not hesitate to contact maternity services if you have any concerns.
For parent education and videos:
- RUH -https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/patients/services/maternity/antenatal_education/index.asp
- GWH- https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/wards-and-services/a-to-z/maternity-services/information-for-parents-and-parents-to-be/
- SFT - https://www.salisbury.nhs.uk/InformationForPatients/Departments/Maternity/Pages/Home.aspx
Another source of information about maternity provision is the local Maternity Voices Partnership https://www.bswmaternityvoices.org.uk/
Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Maternity Voices Partnership Plus is a group of volunteer parents and birth workers, midwives, doctors and commissioners. We work together to review and contribute to the development of local maternity services.
Local Area volunteers are parents who have recently used the local maternity services, or people involved in providing services for pregnant and new parents, such as antenatal teachers or breastfeeding supporters. They are a crucial part of the team – the MVP couldn’t function without these volunteers.
