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Note to visitors - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Visiting a patient
(Updated 20 November 2020)
In line with the government announcement, we have taken the difficult decision to restrict visiting as below in order to protect our patients and staff. Visiting will only be permitted in the following circumstances and PPE must be worn.
General areas
- Patients in the final days of life will be able to receive visitors on compassionate grounds
- If the patient’s carer needs to be in attendance to support the patient for physical or mental health reasons
Maternity visiting update: 18 December 2020
From Saturday 19 December we are pleased to be able to welcome one support partner (wearing a mask unless medically exempt) to attend the following:
- 12 and 20 week scans
- Any appointment in antenatal care following a scan for which the support partner is already present
- When attending triage (this means a partner can be present during labour and birth from the point of attendance to the hospital or midwifery unit)
- For the commencement of induction of labour
- At all times on labour ward
- For a two hour time slot on the postnatal wards
This is in line with new guidance released on Monday to support pregnant women at all times during their maternity journey while keeping the risk of transmission of the virus within NHS maternity services (including to pregnant women, other service users and staff) as low as possible. The guidance acknowledges that there may be some challenges and that some trusts will need to make changes to the way we use our facilities to enable support people to accompany women to access their maternity care safely. Unfortunately testing partners is not an option yet due to the national unavailability of tests. However, we are reviewing each area of the service which will take time to fully roll out to pre-Covid status, particularly in the community and where waiting areas are smaller than required for the footfall. Please check our website and Maternity Services Facebook page for any further updates.
Paediatrics areas
Paediatrics areas
To enable social distancing in our Neonatal Units and on our Paediatric Wards, only one parent or guardian will be able to attend at any given time. Again, it is essential we support families to stay safe, but also protect staff to ensure there is always a workforce available to provide the care local families should be able to expect from their local hospital when they attend for assessment because they are possibly in labour
Argyll Ward
Argyll ward is a 27 bedded antenatal and postnatal ward on Level 7 of the Maternity Unit. It is staffed by Registered Midwives and Maternity Care Assistants. There are a variety of room layouts with 4-bedded, two bedded and single bedded rooms. The use of single rooms tends to be dictated by clinical need.
The Maternity Care Assistants complete specific training to be able to support you, your baby and the midwifery staff. This may mean that it feels as though you are not being seen by a midwife – a midwife does however oversee and supervise all of your care. All staff are qualified to give support with feeding your baby.
To receive medication when you need it we encourage you to keep your medication in your locked bedside cabinet designated for this purpose. This is particularly helpful to you when needing pain relief or when continuing regular medication you would take at home.
Visiting
Friends and family are able to visit between 4pm and 7pm. Your partner and your children can visit at anytime although late at night the privacy of other patients needs to be respected.
Staff will regularly ask you if there is anything you need to be more comfortable. We have a housekeeper and domestic staff who will try and ensure the food is to your liking and that you have regular hot drinks.
Maternity Line
The Maternity Line number is 01752 430200.
The Maternity Line is for all calls related to pregnancy from 20 weeks gestation, labour and newborn babies.
Before 20 weeks gestation the GP should be contacted
If it is an emergency, 999 should be called.
Maternity Films
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