Maternity services relaxed at Bedford Hospital

Visiting restrictions in maternity services at Bedford Hospital are being relaxed as of today (October 26).

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed partners will now be allowed to accompany women at their dating scan (11-14 weeks) as well as being allowed to stay with women during all times whilst on the Delivery Suite not just in established labour.

This is in addition to partners now able to attend the 20 weeks scan appointments which was announced last month.

In a statement from Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, it said: "We have always understood the anxieties and stress maternity visiting restrictions are having on our maternity patients. As such, we continue to work hard with maternity teams and partner organisations to identify how we can further ease restrictions safely, allowing a partner to be present for more antenatal and postnatal appointments.

"The trust is hoping to re-introduce at a later date restricted visiting on our maternity wards. This continues to be a focus of discussions to introduce as soon as it is safe to do so."

But the trust warned that the relaxing of restrictions could change at short notice if it becomes unsafe to continue.

The statement added: "We still do need to limit the footfall on both hospital sites to not only protect patients but to also protect our staff, keep them well so they can continue to provide safe and essential quality patient care.

"We constantly risk assess and review restrictions by understanding local incidence rates, and the environment of both hospital sites to ensure we can safely deliver high quality care whilst keeping women and families safe."