We’ll be screening patients and visitors on arrival at our entrances.  If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, please get tested and don't visit the hospital. 

Except for birthing partners, you will not be allowed to visit if:

• You are self-isolating (due to close contact with a confirmed case or due to recent overseas travel)
• You have acute respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, sore throat) fever or abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

If you are the nominated visitor, we ask that you:

• Complete the COVID-19 Visitor Screening Form electronically with the screener
• Follow the information sheet which will be given to each visitor
• Acknowledge that you understand and follow appropriate hand hygiene measures
• Maintain physical distancing of at least two metres from staff and other patients wherever possible
• Restrict your visit to the ward or service area that the patient you are visiting is located in, or to on-site retail areas, for example cafés and the pharmacy
• Wear a mask at all times
• Follow dedicated walking areas to ensure physical distancing is maintained whilst onsite
• Report any other concerns while entering or exiting the hospital to our information kiosk.

Antenatal Appointments

• One support person may attend outpatient appointments.

Women's Assessment Unit (WAU)

• One support person can attend for assessment and during early induction of labour.

Labour and Birth

• Two support people may attend throughout labour and birth until transfer to the postnatal ward. Only one support person may then stay overnight by negotiation of the midwife in charge.
• Only one support person may attend births in the operating theatre if they are not under general anaesthetic. Because of limited space they will be asked to leave the theatre complex during the initial recovery period after surgery, but can visit the postnatal wards (see below).

Postnatal Wards

• One support person may visit between the hours of 7am and 8 pm. You may nominate two visitors, but only one can visit at a time. 
  • Your visitor must stay in the room (or bed space in shared rooms) allocated to the person they are visiting.
  • A support person may be able to stay overnight by negotiation with the midwife in charge and if a single room can be allocated. These are limited rooms and the Clinical Charge Midwife decides placement into a single room. Overnight support people will need to sign an agreement outlining what is expected of them during their stay.
  • Ideally, we would like children to stay home but please discuss with the midwife in charge if children need to attend for short visits or on compassionate grounds to enable partners to be in attendance during the day.

Antenatal Appointments 

• COVID-19 positive partners cannot attend outpatient appointments

• Labour, Birth, and Postnatal Care

  If a birthing partner is known to have COVID-19 before coming to the hospital, or tests positive on routine RAT testing on arrival, they can stay and isolate until the baby is born. Birthing partners must agree to the following guidelines: 

  • Birthing partners must follow our staff's isolation guidance and agree to wear a face mask and appropriate PPE as required.
  • Birthing partners must stay in the allocated room for the duration of the stay in hospital. If the birthing partner leaves the hospital, they will be required to isolate at home and will not be allowed to return. 
  • Birthing partners cannot swap out with another support person. 
  • If a transfer to the operating theatre to give birth is required, a COVID-19 positive birthing partner will not be able to accompany their partner and will instead be asked to wait in the postnatal space allocated.
  • We will do our best to facilitate video calling where possible to enable virtual attendance at the birth.
  • Birthing partners will then be able to isolate with their partner and baby in the postnatal ward. 

Antenatal Appointments

• One support person may attend outpatient appointments.

Women's Assessment Unit (WAU)

• One support person can attend for assessment and during early induction of labour.

Labour and Birth

• Two support people may attend throughout labour and birth until transfer to the postnatal ward. Only one support person may then stay overnight by negotiation of the midwife in charge.
• Only one support person may attend births in the operating theatre if they are not under general anaesthetic. Because of limited space they will be asked to leave the theatre complex during the initial recovery period after surgery, but can visit the postnatal wards (see below).

Postnatal Wards

• One support person may visit between the hours of 7am and 8 pm. You may nominate two visitors, but only one can visit at a time. 
  • Your visitor must stay in the room (or bed space in shared rooms) allocated to the person they are visiting.
  • A support person may be able to stay overnight by negotiation with the midwife in charge and if a single room can be allocated. These are limited rooms and the Clinical Charge Midwife decides placement into a single room. Overnight support people will need to sign an agreement outlining what is expected of them during their stay.
  • Ideally, we would like children to stay home but please discuss with the midwife in charge if children need to attend for short visits or on compassionate grounds to enable partners to be in attendance during the day.

• If a birthing partner is known to be a household contact of a person with COVID-19 giving birth, they may attend the labour and birth, and isolate with the birthing person, until the baby is born.
• Birthing partners who are household contacts must agree to the following guidelines: 

• • Birthing partners must follow our staff's isolation guidance and agree to wear a face mask and appropriate PPE as required.
  • Birthing partners must stay in the allocated room for the duration of the stay in hospital. If the birthing partner leaves the hospital, they will be required to isolate at home and will not be allowed to return. 
  • Birthing partners cannot swap out with another support person. 
  • If a transfer to the operating theatre to give birth is required, a birthing partner who is a household contact of someone with COVID-19 will not be able to accompany their partner and will instead be asked to wait in the postnatal space allocated.
  • We will do our best to facilitate video calling where possible to enable virtual attendance at the birth.
  • Birthing partners will then be able to isolate with their partner and baby in the postnatal ward.