Support partners are now able to attend all antenatal scans appointments as long as they can provide a negative COVID-19 test result, taken within 24 hours of the appointment. On arrival they must show the negative test result to reception staff. It is compulsory for support partners and the expectant mother to have a negative test result to attend on-site.
This is important as many people who have COVID-19 have no symptoms, but they can still spread the virus to other people.
Free rapid testing is available at community testing sites, in workplaces and at home. Please see the locations under 'Where can I go for a free COVID-19 test' below.
All members of the public attending the scans will be required to wear a face mask and adhere to social distancing rules to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
You should attend your appointment 15 minutes before your scheduled time.
Please also remember to wash or gel your hands on entering the building and as advised by staff whilst at your appointment.
Due to social distancing requirements we may ask your support partner to wait in the car or marquee prior to your appointment.
Paediatric ward
Neonatal Unit
- Two parents have open access to their baby on neonatal unit
- Maintain strict social distancing at home, isolating from people outside your home as much as possible
- Avoid using public transport
- Please shower and wear clean clothes before you visit
- Answer screening questions and have your temperature checked on arrival to maternity reception
- Wash or gel your hands on entering the building and as advised by staff whilst on NNU
- You must wear a surgical mask covering mouth and nose throughout the building, but we recognise the need to remove your masks when interacting with your baby to enhance your baby’s development and bonding. We ask that you make sure you are wearing your mask when staff are within 2 metres or if you leave your baby’s cot space
- Stay by your baby’s cot, remaining at least 2 metres apart from other families
- Maintain social distancing with staff where possible
- One visit to NNU per day, once you leave the unit you cannot come back
- Bring everything that you will need for the day, including snacks/drinks. Our drinks kitchen is available for you to use
- The parents room is open to use the toilet, no more than two parents to be in this room at any one time, maintain 2 metres social distancing.
- Virtual discussions with nursing and medical staff about your baby’s care are available, just let us know
- We offer vCreate and Baby Diary to help keep in touch
- We encourage parents to have lateral flow COVID-19 test twice a week.
Access for Birth Partners to the New Cross Maternity Department
All members of the public attending the unit with their partners will be required to wear a face mask and adhere to social distancing rules to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
We are very much in support of partners being able to attend at such an important time for families but the safety of our pregnant women, their partners and our staff is our top priority.
In the meantime the following existing access arrangements across Women’s and Neonatal Services remain in place;
- One birth partner can attend with women in labour on the Delivery Suite and the Midwifery Led Unit
- One support partner can be present on the Induction Suite from 10:00am-9:00pm every day
- On the Maternity Triage Unit (MTU) one birth partner can attend within each bed space
- Maternity Ward (D10) visiting for partners only can attend between 12:00pm-6:00pm once the mother receives a negative COVID-19 result
- If your baby requires Transitional Care, you will stay with your baby. Partners can be with you for up to six hours between 11:00am and 7:00pm
- On the Neonatal Unit, one parent can be with their baby all the time, and the second parent can be present between 11:00am and 7:00pm for up to six hours.
All areas within Maternity will consider compassionate visiting/extenuating circumstances; at the discretion of the Ward Manager or Matron.
Postnatal ward visitors welcomed
An additional visitor is now welcomed on to the postnatal wards at New Cross Hospital as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease.
Hour-long visiting slots will need to be booked via the online visiting form (The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust - Visitor Bookings) or by calling 01902 481868.
Visitors will be encouraged to check with the inpatient if they feel well enough to receive a visitor. Siblings of baby will also be welcomed during the visit.
Kate Cheshire, Head of Midwifery and Neonatal Services for The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said: “Last month we announced that two birthing partners were able to accompany mums-to-be in active labour in the delivery suite and we know that being able to open up visiting opportunities even further will make a real difference to our women and their families.
“Maternity Services has had to work to make the hospital as safe as possible for service users and staff but appreciate that necessary restrictions have made things difficult for our pregnant women and their loved ones. We are looking forward to being able to welcome additional visitors from tomorrow.”
Face masks are still required at all times, along with good hand hygiene to minimise the risk of infection. This is to protect unwell patients within the hospital.
Anyone who has any of the recognised symptoms of COVID-19, which are a raised temperature, new continuous cough or loss of/change of taste or smell, must not come into the hospital.
In addition, anyone with norovirus symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea should also keep away.
