LETTER: There remains an absence of compassion
A reader discusses the need for compassion around coronavirus rules.
Over several months young mums to be and their partners could not have their babies in Walsall, their home town and place they chose to bring their families up in. Mothers were exiled to Sandwell or Wolverhampton because Walsall NHS Trust Maternity was not fit for purpose.
Today in some local Trusts there remains a real absence of compassion, let alone common sense. Local women are angry that you can go to a restaurant or hair appointment but you can’t have your partner with you at these very significant moments of child birth. Partners offer emotional support and can act as advocates and raise concerns when a woman may not be able to do so.
Stopping partners visiting mothers and babies on antenatal and postnatal wards and from attending appointments at scans is poor NHS management. There is a postcode lottery with different rules applying to different Trusts and private hospitals. Anxiety is not a good thing for mum and unborn baby.
Both mothers and babies have better birth outcomes when a women’s partner is actively involved in the pregnancy - During a Covid 19 crisis or not. It is time every effort is made by maternity units and services to support our local mums to be at such life enhancing times in their lives.
Doug James, Walsall
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