KGH eases restrictions on bringing partners to pregnancy scans

Pregnant women will now be able to bring a birth partner to scans and their initial assessment at Kettering General Hospital after restrictions were eased.

On March 25 the Rothwell Road hospital - which has so far suffered 219 tragic Covid-19 related deaths - banned all visitors with just a few exceptions because of the pandemic.

In June the hospital revised the arrangements to allow birth partners to visit mums on a maternity ward for a small period each day in addition to the birth, but pregnant women still had to go for scans on their own.

But now restrictions have been further eased to allow mums-to-be to bring their partner to scans and their initial assessment at Kettering General Hospital only.

From today (August 1), when a woman is first admitted partners will be able to attend with them for the initial assessment.

Partners will be asked to follow specific rules to ensure social distancing and will have their temperature and symptoms checked upon arrival.

From Monday (August 3), partners will be able to attend scan appointments.

However space in the waiting room is limited to allow for social distancing and if no seating in the waiting room is available, a bleeper will be given and mums and their partner will be asked to wait outside or in their car. When space is available or the scan appointment is due to begin they will be bleeped to return.

This does not apply to ante-natal appointments

There is no change to visiting hours for birth partners who can be at the bedside on the ward between 2pm and 6pm.

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