Visiting update – Following government changes on 19 July 2021
We are continuing to maintain our strict covid and non-covid pathways and our staff and visitors must continue to wear the appropriate PPE, regularly wash hands/use hand gel and where possible stay socially distant.
We continue to restrict patient visiting to the site, prioritising those who are visiting based on compassionate grounds.
We remind patients to still attend their appointments where invited.
We urge people to take up their offer of a vaccine as soon as possible and follow latest Government advice on Covid-19 precautions.
Visiting hours for George Eliot Hospital Maternity Services
Please note that surgical facemasks should be worn when visiting all George Eliot Hospital locations unless medically exempt.
We would encourage all women and birth partners to regularly access lateral flow testing within the community as recommended by the government. You should not attend if you have any symptoms of Covid-19 unless an emergency appointment or in labour.
Women and birth partners will be asked to show a recent lateral flow test (within the last 24 hours) when they attend the hospital. We will accept photos of the lateral flow test, or screen shots of the results uploaded onto the government website.
Please don’t worry if you have not been able to complete a lateral flow test at home. We will be able to conduct a risk assessment for you and your support person.
If you wish to have a lateral flow test when you are here, we will be able to facilitate this for you.
We are sorry but children are still unable to visit the maternity unit.
This guidance is subject to change in line with local and national guidance.
Scans Appointments and Antenatal Clinic Appointments
As of Tuesday 13th April 2021 we will be commencing a phased return of birth partners attending maternity appointments. All patients and visitors attending within the unit will be screened and temperature checked for COVID-19. Birth partners who are symptomatic for COVID-19 will be asked to self-isolate in accordance with government guidance.
This will commence with partners attending all scan appointments and Antenatal Clinic appointments. One nominated birth partner will be able to support you through your pregnancy journey, this person should ideally be from the same household or within your support bubble.
In the near future we are looking to increase this to include Maternity Assessment Unit and triage attendances, please be patient whilst we work through this process; continue to watch out for future updates over the next few weeks.
All birth partners visiting the unit must strictly adhere to the wearing of a surgical face mask at all times, unless medically exempt.
Unfortunately the scan and clinic waiting rooms are not large enough to support the required 2m social distancing for women and birth partners combined. To support this we are requesting for birth partners to wait downstairs in the maternity foyer area whilst women are able to be seated in the waiting rooms.
Women will be asked to contact their birth partner by mobile phone when called into their appointment. Please ensure your mobile is available and switched on. Please note there is a limit to the time available if birth partners are delayed.
Delivery Suite
One birth partner can support mums-to-be throughout labour and delivery.
Drayton Ward
Visiting times are between 2-7pm for 1 birth partner only. Women admitted for Induction of labour can have their birth partner attend with them the morning of their induction.
Any women in early labour will continue to be supported to have their birth partner in attendance to support them during this time.
All birth partners visiting the unit must strictly adhere to the wearing of a surgical face mask at all times, unless medically exempt, and details must be provided for NHS track and trace.
Your birth partner will be required to remain in a designated floor space area at the bedside throughout their time on the ward.
Guidance for people visiting the Special Care Baby Unit
We appreciate that you may find the following necessary actions difficult; however they have been put into place to protect your baby.
Only parents are currently able to attend the Unit. No other family members, siblings or friends are able to visit at this time.
One parent is able to be with their baby for an unrestricted period of time each day.
The second parent is able to be present during an allocated 4 hour slot. These time slots are:
Please let nursing staff know which slot you would like each day before leaving. Nurses will monitor this to ensure fairness, but also to maintain social distancing between cot-spaces. At the end of the time period, the second parent will need to leave the unit. Please minimise the number of times you leave the unit.
When twins are admitted, each parent may be with one baby each day, with no changeover between baby and parent
