Visiting from 1st of July 2025
To ensure we’re maximising rest periods for women staying at our maternity wards, we have changed when partners, key supporters, friends and family can visit.
Please note, women can continue to have up to two people with them during labour and birth. This has not changed.
When partners or key supporters can visit the maternity wards
We have an open visiting policy for a woman’s partner or key supporter between 8.00am to 10.00pm.
Partners cannot stay overnight.
Please be assured that our wonderful team of midwives, maternity support workers and maternity care assistants will be on hand to support women with everything they need throughout the night, including feeding support.
Overnight stays can happen only if a woman or baby has particular needs and partners will be allocated a side room for sleeping by the Senior Charge Midwife in this instance.
When friends and family (general visitors) can visit the wards
We appreciate that this is an exciting time for family and friends who are eager to visit their loved ones, however, to allow meal and rest periods for women staying on the maternity wards, we’ve made some changes to when people can visit.
There are set visiting times for up to two visitors (other than the woman’s partner).
Visiting times
- 10.00am – 12.00pm
- 2.00pm – 5.00pm
- 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Why have we made these changes?
We are continuously listening to the women, families, and staff on wards to ensure that we’re providing them with the most comfortable and safe environment.
In February 2024, we introduced open visiting in our maternity wards, where visitors could come at any time of the day and into the evening. Partners could also stay overnight.
To find out how well this was working for our patients, we asked our maternity staff and women who had given birth in the last six months what they thought. We heard from 240 staff and over 1000 women.
- The majority of women and staff wanted a new approach to visiting and partners staying over to maximise comfort and rest.
- Most staff felt concerned about the impact that the number of day visitors and partners staying overnight was having on the women and babies in their care.
- Partners staying overnight meant a lack of privacy for other women which was affecting some women’s ability to sleep, feel confident to breastfeed, or even go to the toilet.
- More than half of women we surveyed said they had been disturbed by other people’s visitors and partners.
- While women said that having their partners overnight was helpful and supportive, they also said that current facilities were not comfortable for the partner, nor were there toilet or shower facilities for them.
Antenatal appointments, scans, triage/maternity assessment/daycare visits
No change. Women can bring up to two support people of their choice to any appointments. We encourage people to not bring their other children to these appointments.
During labour and birth, the immediate period after birth in labour suites, alongside midwife units
No change. When a woman is admitted to the labour suite or alongside midwife unit, they are able to have up to two support people of their choice with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can access a side room on the ward and have their partner stay over?
The Senior Charge Midwife on each ward makes decisions about who is able to access a side room during their stay. Each ward has a small number of ensuite side rooms. Most of our beds are in four-bedded bays.
Reasons why a woman may be able to access a side room:
- Experiencing a loss or bereavement
- Their baby is preterm or unwell and not able to be with them
- Their baby is preterm, or they have twins and they are needing additional care while on the postnatal ward
- The woman’s psychological interventions or social care team has advised that they require someone to stay overnight
- The woman is required to stay with us for an extended period
Isn’t it important for my partner to stay to bond with the baby?
We understand the nervousness that some partners may have about not being with the baby to bond overnight. Bonding between a partner and the baby is so important and we appreciate the eagerness to do so as soon as possible.
Please be assured that this bond isn’t just made in the first few hours of the baby’s life. Building this strong relationship happens over many days, weeks and months.
The aim is that the women and the partner will be more rested overnight. It is important for to get as much sleep as possible in those first few days of parenthood.
Will I get the help and support I need if my partner isn’t with me overnight?
Certainly. The ward team is made up of midwives, maternity support workers and maternity care assistants who are there to support you. We encourage everyone to ask for any help they need both before and after the birth, including learning about feeding your baby. If you need an interpreter, the staff can arrange this for you.
We hope this new approach to visiting will provide a calm, safe environment for all the women and babies staying with us.
If you have any questions or worries about these changes, please speak to your community midwife.