THURSDAY, 26 MARCH, 2020

COVID-19: NHS Tayside suspends visiting in antenatal and postnatal inpatient wards

NHS Tayside has taken the decision to suspend visiting for antenatal and postnatal wards in NHS Tayside to limit the potential spread of coronavirus and to protect mothers and newborn babies. This will come into effect from Thursday, 26 March.

Birth partners will continue to be welcomed during childbirth. If anyone has any further questions about visiting arrangements please speak to the midwife in charge of the ward.

We know that patients and families may have concerns but we hope everyone understands that we have taken this difficult decision to help protect our patients and staff as it will further reduce the number of people coming into our hospitals each day.

NHS Tayside’s Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Claire Pearce, said, “We understand that suspending visiting will impact on families and patients and we know that not being able to visit family members whilst they are in hospital may be upsetting. However, this will allow us to keep women and their babies safe and healthy at this time.

“We would like to thank the public for their support and understanding regarding some of the changes which are ongoing in our maternity services at present. All our midwives are working very hard and are absolutely committed to continuing to provide a high quality patient-centred maternity service.”

We would like to remind everyone coming into hospital to follow NHS Tayside’s hand hygiene and hand washing advice and we asking everyone not to visit our hospitals if they have any flu-like symptoms, a cough, a fever or a cold – or if they generally feel unwell.

Additional information: - This change is in addition to those announced last week about visiting and appointments in NHS Tayside Maternity services and Early Pregnancy Services.

Changes to maternity services and visiting announced last week:

• all women in Tayside will give birth at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, either at the Dundee Midwifery Unit or in the Labour Suite.

• Labour and birthing at community maternity units at Perth Royal Infirmary and Arbroath Infirmary will not be available.

• Women who are planning a home birth and are due soon will birth in the Dundee Midwifery Unit

Visiting and appointments:

• Early pregnancy appointments with the early pregnancy service - women attend alone

• All ultrasound scan appointment - women attend alone

• All antenatal clinic appointments across community (GPs) and hospital settings including Perth and Angus Community Maternity Units - women will attend alone

• In labour - one NAMED birth partner

• No children will be admitted in any areas

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138