Fathers still banned from baby scans at hospitals in region
Expectant fathers are still not allowed to accompany mothers-to-be into antenatal scan appointments due to Covid risks, despite people being able to mix at pubs and restaurants.
Frustrated new parents have said they feel "angry" and "heartbroken" at the rules, which came into force at the beginning of lockdown and are still in place now despite restrictions easing elsewhere.
It means thousands of pregnant women have had to attend their antenatal appointments alone, with fathers and birthing partners unable to go with them.
Hospital bosses across the Black Country and Staffordshire have said they understand expectant mothers want their partners with them, but safety of patients "must come first".
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Helen Hurst, director of midwifery at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, said: “We understand that parents-to-be will want to attend appointments together when attending antenatal clinics.
"However, our priority remains to keep our patients, their unborn baby and family safe.
"Currently, due to Covid-19, antenatal appointments are restricted to the patient, and at this present time, partners are not able to attend. We remain cautious due to the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in Birmingham and Sandwell and continue to monitor the situation. We will adjust restrictions when it is safe to do so."
Diane Wake, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This has been discussed with the obstetric ultrasound team, early pregnancy clinic, the fetal medicine consultants and at governance and divisional management meetings and continues to be reviewed.
Special circumstances
"However, Covid-19 has not gone away and the risk in the UK has yet to come down to a level where it is safe to allow partners back into the scan rooms.
"This is obviously with exceptions, with a clear process in place for the findings of any abnormalities or special circumstances where the individual may require additional support due to their circumstances.
"This scan is to determine the health of the baby. Women are scanned with skill, compassion and understanding, support is offered by trained early pregnancy staff, midwives and doctors as well as the sonographers.
"Women needing extra support will discuss this with their midwife and will be triaged to determine if any adjustments can be made."
Tracy Palmer, head of nursing and midwifery at Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, added: "We are very keen to reintroduce partners at scans, presently we are reviewing this arrangement and will be liaising with the royal colleges and Society of Radiographers to ensure that we re-introduce partners attending scans safely and in line with guidance.
Priority
"We can appreciate this may be disappointing and frustrating for partners, but we can assure you that it is the safest precaution to take at this time."
Chief nurse Michelle Rhodes at University Hospitals North Midlands, which runs Stafford County Hospital, said: "The health, safety and wellbeing of all our patients and staff across UHNM remain our absolute priority.
“We have reinstated visiting to some areas and the reintroduction of partners attending antenatal scans is currently under review to ensure we are able to keep staff, patients and visitors safe and comply with social distancing guidance.
“I understand that this is difficult and upsetting in some circumstances for people but it is about doing the right thing for everybody, including parents to be. We would ask people to support us until we are able to return to normal practices, which we aim to do as quickly and safely as possible.”
Couple went private to be together
“It was gutting, having to sit in the car and wait to see whether everything was fine with our child really made me anxious.”
Elliot and Rebecca Sayce from Wolverhampton are expecting their first child together in December – a girl – and said they found the rules at antenatal scans “frustrating” at first so later went private.
The husband and wife pair said they understood it was for the safety of everyone but it was upsetting not to have Elliot, 32, present for the “special moments”.
Elliot, who owns his own firm Melrose Electrical, said: “It was gutting at first, but I understood it was for everyone’s safety, including my wife and child.
“As time went on we could book a private scan which I was allowed into so I at least got to see her and support my wife at her side.”
Rebecca, aged 25, has been to two NHS scans at New Cross Hospital on her own, and then booked four private scans – with can cost up to £60 a time – so her husband could also come along.
She said: “At first I was really upset and angry. It was frustrating to see people be able to go to shops, beauty appointments, bars and not have my husband present for these special moments.
“But, after speaking to friends that work on the front line it has made me realise that these restrictions are necessary and we need to protect those most vulnerable any way we can.
“Hospitals are where the vast majority of coronavirus patients are taken, and we need to keep any extra people away.
"It is difficult going alone, but when others are waking up to the news they have lost loved ones to coronavirus it is a small price to pay. "I’ve seen a lot of parents-to-be criticising hospitals and calling these rules ridiculous, but I would like to say how amazing staff at New Cross Hospital and our midwife have been."
