This page provides information on person-centred visiting in our maternity wards. Information about visiting in all other areas can be found on our Person Centred Visiting page.
Important considerations when visiting our Maternity Wards
Women, new mothers, and newborns staying in our maternity wards need a calm and peaceful environment. Babies need time to get accustomed to being in the world, to establish feeding, and to bond privately with their parents. In response to valuable feedback from women and their families, we ask that you help us to achieve this by:
- being considerate and respectful of the needs and preferences of everyone on the ward
- respecting our person-centred visiting arrangements:
Visiting Arrangements
Partner/Key Supporters
If you are a Partner/Key Supporter, you are welcome to visit the wards from 8:00am to 10:00pm, including during mealtimes.
Please see the Key Information below for additional information that is relevant to you during your visit.
All Other Visitors
All other visitors are welcome to visit during the following visiting hours:
10:00am to 12:00pm; 2:00pm to 5:00pm; 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Wards are closed to visitors from 12:00pm to 2:00pm, to allow meal and rest periods for women staying on the wards.
We ask that there are no more than 2 visitors at a time. Visitors must be over the age of 16, unless they are siblings of the baby.
Please note, there may be times when we ask you to leave the ward temporarily. This is to ensure the privacy, safety, space and rest for women and babies in our care.
Key Information for Women and their Partners/Key Supporters
Attending antenatal appointments, scans, triage/maternity assessments or day care visits
Women attending any appointments can bring up to two support people, of their choice, with them to appointments.
We encourage people not to bring their other children to these appointments.
During labour, birth, and the immediate period after birth on Labour Suites or Alongside Midwife Units (AMUs)
Women admitted to the Labour Suites or Alongside Midwife Units, are able to have up to two support people, of their choice, with them.
Are overnight stays possible for Partners/Key Supporters
In response to valuable feedback from women and their families, overnight stays for Partners/Key Supporters are only possible in single-bed side rooms, and the woman or baby have particular needs.
We do not allow overnight stays in multi-bedded bays.
Who is able to access a side room during their stay?
Each ward has a small number of single-bed, en-suite side rooms. Most of our antenatal and postnatal beds are in four-bedded bays. Senior Charge midwives will make a decision as to who can access a single-bed side room during their stay, based on the following criteria (NB. this is not an exhaustive list):
- 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 are needing additional care whilst on the postnatal ward
- Their psychological interventions require someone to stay overnight
- The social care team has advised someone to stay overnight
- They will be staying on the ward for an extended period of time