Having received reports that some mothers were being denied the opportunity to have their partner or another individual of their choice by their side during local ultrasound appointments, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – wrote to the Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services.
Janet has now welcomed the Minister’s reply, with updated guidance being introduced by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), saying:
“Ultrasound appointments are an extremely important stage in the maternity journey, providing a key opportunity for parents to see their child. This is why I was so concerned to have received reports that some mothers have been denied the opportunity to have their partner or another individual of their choice by their side at these pivotal appointments.
“Having written to the Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services, to outline these concerning local reports and in which I called for an update to the Welsh Government’s hospital visiting guidance which was published in June, Health Boards were consequently able to undertake further risk assessments of all maternity sites to assess whether some restrictions could be lifted.
“I welcome the significant news that new guidance for BCUHB has now been implemented as, from the middle of this month, nominated partners can attend scans as long as they complete a lateral flow test before attending the hospital. On arrival, nominated partners will also need to be screened for symptoms.
“Visiting considerations will be informed by community COVID-19 transmission rates, hospital COVID 19 admission numbers and outbreaks. Nonetheless, this is an important change which will give some much-needed reassurance to our new parents-to-be as they receive this essential scan information together.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- Please find a copy of Janet’s letter to Eluned Morgan MS attached.
- Please find a copy of the Minister’s reply attached.
- Please find the full and updated BCUHB guidance by clicking here.
Photo: by freestocks on Unsplash
