Updated visitor guidance for maternity areas - response to COVID-19 coronavirus

From June 2022 visiting arrangements for maternity services at Frimley Park Hospital and Wexham Park Hospital will be as follows.These arrangements will kept under review:

We encourage all women and support partners to attend appointments on time and wait outside the hospital if they arrive early.

Please read our signage and posters before entering the hospital or department and remember if you or your birth partner have any COVID-19 symptoms please do not attend the hospital. If you are in labour and need to be seen urgently please contact the telephone triage number on your notes as you would normally.

Birth partners: These are the individuals who are supporting you during your birth and not another member of your family. 

We are now asking all birth partners to provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test taken within the last 24 hours when accompanying mothers to hospital when they are being admitted. (Lateral flow tests are not needed for outpatient appointments). 

Food and drink: We ask that partners do not consume food or drink when in the outpatient, antenatal or postnatal ward areas. Where possible we will encourage them to take breaks during the day and have refreshments away from hospital premises. Visitors are not currently permitted to use hospital restaurants. 

Appointments: Please see below for information on different appointment areas. 

• All antenatal/postnatal appointments in midwifery hubs and antenatal clinics: Women can attend the appointment with one birth partner.
• Ultrasound appointments: Women can attend the appointment with one birth partner, not another family member or friend. Maternity triage, day assessment unit or maternity assessment unit: One birth partner can attend this appointment/area with you. If you are admitted from triage a second birth partner may join you.
• Antenatal ward/ induction of labour: Visitors can visit you between 9am and 9pm on the antenatal ward. If you are being induced then you are allowed to be accompanied by the two birth partners supporting you during labour.
• Birth in labour ward and birth centre: Two birth partners can be in the room in the birth centre or ward for the duration of a woman's time there. Partners are asked not to used any of the shared facilities and may only consume refreshments that you/ staff have provided when there are no staff members in the room.
• Elective caesarean sections: Two birth partners can be present from admission but only one can accompany you during theatre. The birth partners can remain on the postnatal ward in line with postnatal visiting rules.
• Postnatal ward/ transitional care unit: Family and friends will be able to visit on the antenatal and postnatal wards between the hours of 9am and 9pm. Children under 10 are asked not to visit unless they are a sibling. 

We appreciate your support in helping to keep service users and staff safe during this time.