All visiting within the Gateshead Health maternity unit is being reinstated to pre-pandemic arrangements from 1 June 2022.
Scans and antenatal appointments
For all scan and antenatal appointments in either the Community, Women’s Health clinic or on PAU, birthing people can bring one support person to attend with them. It is requested that children do not attend scan appointments wherever possible.
Labour ward
For labour and birth, all birthing people can still be accompanied throughout (including the induction process) by one birth partner. However, we are delighted to confirm that once in established labour, a second birthing partner can now also attend for any birthing people who would like this option of extra support in labour.
Antenatal and postnatal ward
We can also confirm that visiting on the antenatal & postnatal ward will return to pre-pandemic arrangements whereby a nominated support person can visit during the hours 10:00am- 7:45pm. No other children aged 12 and under other than siblings to attend.
A support person (plus the baby’s siblings) can visit from the hours of 10:00 to 19:45
All other visitors are permitted from 14:00 to 15:00 and from 18:30 to 19:30
All visitors are required to report to the reception desk and a restriction of only 3 visitors per bed at any one time (including partner and own children) will be in place.
Unfortunately, we cannot permit other children under the age of 12 from extended family or friends due to infection risks to newborn babies and mothers.
Testing positive for covid
If a birthing person tests positive for Covid on any pre-admission or admission swabs, visiting would still have to be restricted on the ward to just one support partner for the duration of that person’s admission, this is to control the spread of the virus and protect all patients, staff and families.
Special Care Baby Unit
Parents with babies in the Special Care Baby Unit will continue to have open access to visit their baby at any time, 24 hours a day.
All visitors can attend the unit between 15:30 to 16:30 and 18:30 to 19:30
Unfortunately, no children other than siblings of the babies in the Special Care Baby Unit can be permitted to visit, due to the infection risk this poses.
There is a limit of 3 people to a cot side, including parents.
A parent must be present with their visitors.