Hospital opts not to increase maternity unit access

The new guidelines for access to maternity units which were to come into being on Monday are not being implemented at Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar.

In a statement issued this week, the Ireland East Hospital Group confirmed that it has not implemented the new guidelines, which allow birth partners “open access” to maternity units from 8am to 9pm.

Stating that “there remains significant risk in the spread of Covid-19 in the community”, the group said that “it is a patient safety imperative that the hospital continues to manage the risk to all patients under its responsibility”.

The group also said that some general hospitals, such as MRH Mullingar, “have significant infrastructural challenges that heightens the risk of spreading infection”.

“This is particularly challenging in a Covid-19 environment. Providing appropriate space for social distancing and separate pathways within the current infrastructure of our hospitals has been difficult, especially those located within general hospitals.”

Currently at MRH Mullingar, fathers or other support partners can visit between 6pm and 8pm. They can also be with the mother through labour and birth, whether it is a vaginal delivery or by caesarean section. Support partners can also attend the scans at 12 and 20 weeks.

Announced less than two weeks ago and due to be introduced at maternity units across the country, the new guidelines advise that support partners should have “open access” from 8am to 9pm.

When it comes to the enforcing the guidelines, the HSE said that “it is important to apply the time cut-offs with consideration for the needs of the patient and their nominated support partner in particular when people are anxious or distressed and the clinical situation is changing rapidly”.

When it comes to ante-natal care, the new guidelines say that “a nominated support partner should be welcome to attend at the 12-week and 20-week scans, early pregnancy assessment unit attendances, unscheduled attendance including attendance at emergency services and other antenatal appointments or attendances if there is reason to anticipate that the attendance is likely to be associated with particular stress or to involve communication of particular emotional significance.

“It is important to take a person centred approach to recognising contexts in which the presence of a nominated support person is required.”