Partners allowed to attend all pregnancy scans and antenatal clinic appointments at Jessop Wing

Partners or a nominated support person can now (Monday 12 April) attend all pregnancy scans, including dating, anomaly and growth scans, and all follow-up antenatal appointments at Jessop Wing as long as they both are not required to isolate due to Covid-19.

Karen Jessop, Deputy Chief Nurse for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We would like to thank everyone for their continued support and patience during the past year and we will continue to monitor and review our stepped approach to the easing of maternity restrictions in line with national maternity guidance and Trust-wide visiting restrictions.

"We know how important this time is for parents and we are doing everything we can to allow as much access as possible but our prime consideration will continue to be the safety of women and babies.”

One in 10 in Sheffield lonely during Covid second wave

This latest relaxation follows one on February 11, when partners were allowed to attend scans for the first time since lockdown started. Partners could also be present at births and labour.

Until then, strict visiting rules remained in place in Sheffield in spite of Government guidance around the presence of partners changing in December 2020 to allow them to be there ‘at all stages’ of the pregnancy.

As of April 12, birth partners and nominated support people above the age of 16 and are not unwell can attend:

- All scan appointments and antenatal appointments. No lateral flow test is required, however masks and hand sanitiser will be provided.

- The early pregnancy assessment unit as long as they have a negative lateral flow test. The hospital wil provide the tests.

- Labour and birth. Partners or a nominated support person can stay with their loved ones through the whole of labour and birth. A lateral flow test is only required for partners of women whose labour is being induced.

- Antenatal and postnatal wards. Partners and support people can visit for an hour a day in a nominated time slow. No test is required.

- Neonatal follow-up clinics. Both parents will also now be able to attend neonatal follow-up clinics without having to have a lateral flow test. Masks are required.