Coronavirus: News from our partners – Visiting extended for antenatal and postnatal wards

News from our partners Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH)

Visiting will be extended at the antenatal and postnatal wards at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford after the Trust which runs the hospital eased restrictions introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

From today, a single, named person will be able to stay on the wards from 9am. Unfortunately it is not possible to allow children to visit at this time.

The antenatal ward (Ward 22) and postnatal ward (Ward 21) will be open for visiting between 9am and 8.30pm. Visitors will be asked to wear a hospital-supplied surgical mask for the duration of their visit.

Named visitors are being asked to test themselves for COVID-19 before visiting the hospital to ensure the safety of patients and staff. Anyone who has not self-tested will be given a lateral flow test before they enter the ward.

Information on rapid testing kits can be found at https://shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/rapid-testing-in-shropshire/ from Shropshire; https://rapidtest.telford.gov.uk/ for Telford & Wrekin; and https://pthb.nhs.wales/coronavirus/coronavirus-testing/ for mid Wales.

Hayley Flavell, Director of Nursing at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which runs PRH, said:

“We are delighted to be able to extend visiting for a named visitor to our antenatal and postnatal wards. We recognise what an important time this is and are pleased that we have been able to put measures in place to make this happen.

“As the number of COVID-19 cases in our region remains relatively low, we are continuing to work to restore visiting to other parts of our hospitals as well, but we must ensure we do this in a way which maintains the safety of our patients and staff.”

In April, SaTH took steps to allow one support partner for all women attending antenatal appointments and ultrasound scans and later in the month open visiting was restored for parents and guardians of babies being cared for on the neonatal unit.

If you have any of the recognised symptoms of COVID-19 (a raised temperature; new, continuous cough; or loss or change in your usual sense of taste or smell) please do not visit our hospitals. You will need to self-isolate at home for 10 days and organise a test; members of your household should also self-isolate for 10 days. Please do not visit if you have recently returned from oversees and have been advised to quarantine.