13 July 2020
Islanders can once again accompany their partners for pregnancy scans at the General Hospital. Guidelines for visitors to the Maternity Unit have been reviewed following the low rate of infection and the subsequent easing of COVID-19 measures.
Partners are now able to accompany women for their antenatal scans while adhering to safety measures, including both being asked to wear masks. Partners are unable to attend other antenatal appointments for the time being, due to physical distancing guidelines within the clinic.
Sharon Summers-Ma, Head of Midwifery at the Jersey General Hospital, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer visitation within the Maternity Unit now it is safe to do so for antenatal scans. We understand it is upsetting that women still must attend antenatal clinic appointments alone, but this measure has been put in place to protect you, your family, other women and families, and maternity staff, from the risk of infection. Antenatal clinic appointments and scans are an essential part of pregnancy care and it is important that you continue to attend them for you and your baby’s wellbeing.”
Visitors to the Maternity Unit must:
- be one of two named visitors permitted on the ward as listed by the mother-to-be
- enter the hospital via the Gwyneth Huelin entrance and receive pre-screening questions
- sign in on arrival to the Maternity Unit for the contact tracing team
- birthing partners will receive a PCR test on admission to the ward
- wear appropriate PPE as provided by the ward
If the results from the PCR tests are negative then partners can stay throughout the labour, delivery and visit during the postnatal period. Each woman can nominate one person to visit them in the Maternity Unit in addition to their partner however only one visitor at a time. Visits should only take place between 3-4pm and 7-8pm daily.
Restrictions will continue to be reviewed as Jersey moves in Level 1 of the Safe Exit Framework.
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