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HEALTH MINISTER STEPHEN Donnelly has said each maternity unit in Ireland is being contacted today to inform them of the guidance on the lifting of maternity restrictions in hospitals nationwide.
Speaking to reporters this morning, he said: ”At this point, I am getting quite frustrated with the lack of progress and I know the HSE is as well.”
Restrictions remain in place in certain hospitals, with protesters gathering outside the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin yesterday.
The HSE advises allowing partners to accompany a woman during labour and childbirth. Partners should also be permitted to attend the 20-week scan and other appointments if deemed necessary.
The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said this week there is “no good reason” for maternity hospitals to continue to restrict visits from partners.
Maternity hospitals and units set individual restrictions, so exclusions on partners attending scans and the early stages of labour still apply in some hospitals.
The health minister said today if maternity units believe there are safety issues in easing restrictions then the onus is on them to make that case back to the HSE.
Donnelly said he spoke to the HSE boss Paul Reid this morning about the matter, and as a result, all 19 maternity units are being contacted.
“They are being told very clearly what the guidance is from the chief medical officer that at the minimum there is access to the 20 week scan for birth and neonatal and that any maternity unit that doesn’t believe that is appropriate or safe at the moment must prove a case back,” he said.
He said that information is being compiled today and a report will be ready for the minister later today.
A number of TDs and senators, such as Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns and Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers, have been highlighting the issue in recent weeks, calling for change so that women and their partners can be together during the birth of their child, and for important scans.
Last week, The Journal reported multiple experiences of women impacted by partner restrictions during pregnancy and birth.
At the beginning of the year, this publication also highlighted the hundreds of emails sent to the health minister and other government members detailing their stories of being left alone when being told tragic news at maternity hospitals.
The Journal contacted some hospital groups yesterday for clarification of their individual maternity visitation policies in place.
The National Maternity Hospital allows partners to attend the 20-week scan, the labour ward or C-section theatre, and inpatient visits for a limited time to postnatal, antenatal or gynaecology wards.
A statement from the Ireland East Hospital Group said some of its maternity units “cannot further ease partner restrictions” at the moment due to the “high amount” of Covid-19 in the community and infrastructure issues at hospitals.
The Regional Hospital in Mullingar and Wexford General Hospital allow partners to attend the 20-week scan and active labour and scheduled caesarean sections.
In St Luke’s General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny, the group statement said it hopes to facilitate partners at the 20-week scan “as soon as possible”. Partners can currently attend active labour and scheduled C-sections.
Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise said partners can attend the anatomy scan, birth once a woman is admitted to the delivery suite, C-sections and the postnatal ward for an hour.
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Just can’t get my head around this being such a problem! Why are they refusing to allow partners access? Feel like I’m missing something.
@Dearbhla O Reilly: they are limiting the partners by only calling them in at the last 30 minutes or so but birth isn’t that predictable. my wife was in labour for 8 hours, the doctor was around but when the baby decided to come it was over within minutes, the doctor didn’t make it and he was on the ward. Two midwives handled it all – great people! Mind you the doctor still charged the insurance company – lol.
So not sure how they expect someone to get from the car park (I’m assuming they would camp out there, I would), signed in, fitted out with masks, gloves and aprons and escorted to the room.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: yep. I’ve heard of one particular story from a woman who gave birth during the pandemic. She’s been left traumatised by her long and very painful labour alone due to repeated attempts to induce her. When baby finally arrived her husband missed the birth as they held him up at the door asking covid clearance questions.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: birth isn’t predictable? Damn. Thats news. Haha.
It just brings me back to the Coombe on my first child with a severe holy cross clad staff nurse refusing to let my husband attend as I knew I was in labour and she couldn’t be convinced. She later had to apologise when he almost crashed to be there. So this also has elements of frustrating control by people who need to be taken to task. And they’re ignoring those who are tasked to do that!!
It’s a denial of a basic human right of a man missing out on that vital bonding time and privilege to watch his child come into the world. Meanwhile the likes of dunnes, aldi etc have been packed with shoppers the entire time it makes no sense especially when hospitals can be a very controlled environment regarding hygiene?
@Trina Murphy: Trina, I would have to agree, if someone can go to the shops safely, then I don’t see how the hospitals can’t implement safety measures to allow the partners to attend. Something like – they can’t leave once they are there, masks, gloves etc. to be worn, limited to the bed area or room etc.
@Trina Murphy: it’s very frustrating. My wife is 38 weeks and I have not been with her for any of the visits. I can get over that. I was only outside in case of any issues. But I’m really worried about missing the birth. She is terrified of being in labour on her own for hours in the hospital. It’s our 3rd and last 2 were difficult births… so we expect this to be similar.
@Mark H: I hope they lift the early labor restrictions in time for you. I went through it alone last year and it was so hard. It’s really unbelievable at this stage that restrictions still in place. You need your birthing partner. Was such a hard experience and ending up with a c section and husband not allowed come to ward. Very difficult
What is going on? Surely one rule should fit all in this case? When schools were told to open they opened, why aren’t all hospitals following the same rules??
@RJ: Because quite simply it suits the hospital staff not to have partners in the hospital. They would rather have them out of the way and not getting underfoot. These regulations were a boon for hospitals not just for maternity but for being able to exclude most visitors. Just ask any nurse or caregiver!! Its disgraceful.
I have two friends that are due very soon and the amount of added stress it’s putting on them and the rest of the pregnant women in Ireland isn’t fair all. The fathers have missed all the scans. One friend, it’s her first baby and I know from hearing the heartbeat the first time back when I was pregnant, it makes it so real and it’s a very emotional time. It’s heartbreaking that fathers/parents to be are missing out on such a precious moment in their lives. The partners are absolutely needed for support and comfort, which is very necessary.
Birth partners have a much right to be there for every single moment of the maternity experience as the expectant mothers, particularly if it’s a difficult pregnancy. I don’t understand why this wasn’t made policy from the start. Might it have something to do with the female representation of lack thereof in nphet, one wonders..?
We’ve a scan tomorrow….can I go along or not?!
@james spice: 20 week anomaly most likely. Routine check up probably not
I will never get over my husband not being allowed in with me. Going through an induction alone. Being in a room alone in incredible pain and not realising I was 4cm. Then the midwives (lovely people who do fantastic work) thinking I had a couple of hours left of labour, when baby decided to make an appearance & my husband only just made it in time. Then he was told he had to leave a short while later, and wasn’t allowed back in until it was discharge time. We had a beautiful healthy baby, and the experience was traumatic. I cannot even begin to imagine the heartache for anyone who doesn’t have a happy healthy baby, and are left alone to cope. It is utterly unacceptable.
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