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Other arrangements at Jessop Wing include:

All scan appointments and antenatal appointments
From Monday 12 April partners or a nominated support person can attend all pregnancy scans, including dating, anomaly and growth scans, and all follow-up antenatal appointments as long as they both are not required to isolate due to Covid-19. No lateral flow test is required but women and partners are asked to wear a mask, wash/gel hands and not to attend if they are unwell or have symptoms of COVID-19. Children under 16 cannot accompany women at appointments.

Partners or a nominated support person will be asked to wait outside the main entrance of Jessop Wing until the time of their partner’s scan or antenatal appointment so that there are as few people as possible in the unit at any one time. They will be called into the appointment when the scan or appointment is about to take place.

Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit
Partners will be able to attend appointments if they have a negative lateral flow test which will be provided by the hospital prior to the appointment time.

Labour and birth
Partners or a nominated support person can stay with their loved ones through the whole of labour and birth. A lateral flow test is only required for partners of women whose labour is being induced. However people should not visit if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 or are required to isolate.

Antenatal and Postnatal Ward visiting
Partners or a nominated support person can visit for one hour a day, in a nominated time slot, on the antenatal and postnatal wards. A lateral flow test is not required but people should not visit if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 or are required to isolate.

Neonatal follow-up clinics
Both parents will also now be able to attend neonatal follow-up clinics without having to have a lateral flow test as long as the guidance is followed in terms of wearing a mask, wash/gel hands and not attending if unwell or having symptoms of COVID-19.

The maternity team at Jessop Wing is continuing to work as hard as possible to explore how partners or a nominated support person can safely be present for assessments in day care.

Karen Jessop, Deputy Chief Nurse for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We would like to thank everyone for their continued support and patience during the past year and we will continue to monitor and review our stepped approach to the easing of maternity restrictions in line with national maternity guidance and Trust-wide visiting restrictions. We know how important this time is for parents and we are doing everything we can to allow as much access as possible but our prime consideration will continue to be the safety of women and babies.”

Pregnant women and their partner or nominated support person are also being reminded to:

• Ensure they do not attend Jessop Wing if either they or another household member are unwell or have any symptoms which could be COVID-19
• Wear a face covering or mask during the scan appointment
• Wash/gel hands on entry to and exit from the Jessop Wing
• Maintain social distancing in line with current government guidelines.

Pregnant women can also contact the Jessop Wing 24 hour Ask the Midwife advice line on 0114 226 8091 if they wish to discuss any aspect of their maternity care.