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Care Opinion

Visiting hours limitations

Posted By Scared New Mum

"Visiting hours limitations"

About: Osborne Park Hospital / Maternity care

(as the patient),

I am delivering my first baby in Osborne Park Hospital via c-section, in just a few weeks time. So far my care has been fantastic, with every doctor, midwife and other staff member providing me with care that I feel has been really centred around my needs. 

At an appointment recently I discovered that the visiting hours at Osborne Park remain shortened post-COVID (3-8pm) for partners, despite being extended weeks ago in most other metro hospitals I believe. I consider myself to be very confident and secure in my abilities as a new mother, but it scares me to think that my partner cannot be there to support me until so late in the day, especially considering that I will be recovering from major surgery, in hospital for up to five days, and trying to establish breastfeeding with my brand new baby. While I know that the staff will do everything in their abilities to support, I really don’t think that compares in any way to having my own partner be there to help me. 

I also feel really saddened that these first precious days are being taken away from my partner, and instead of spending adequate time bonding with baby and supporting me, he will be declined all such rights as a new dad. I really think that Osborne Park should consider the massive impact that not extending visiting hours is having on new families. 

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Responses

Response from Janet Zagari, Executive Director, Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group 3 years ago
Janet Zagari
Executive Director,
Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group

Submitted on 27/07/2020 at 11:57 AM
Published on Care Opinion at 12:18 PM

picture of Janet Zagari

Dear Scared New Mum,

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your experiences of Osborne Park Hospital’s antenatal services as well as sharing your concerns about restricted visiting times for inpatients. I am really pleased to hear about the many positive staff interactions which you have had and which give you confidence in the staff.

Balancing visiting hours and the really important support and social needs of our patients with the public health risk remains really important, despite the current relaxing of restrictions relating to COVID-19. This includes limiting the numbers of visitors entering the hospital so that we can observe the physical distancing requirements; usually, during the day there are more staff present on the ward seeing patients which is why we need to limit the numbers of visitors present during this time.

I do understand your concerns and fears and would like to assure you that we welcome partners to be present during the labour and birth processes and to spend some time with their partners and baby after the birth. Having a baby is an emotional experience and the staff will do everything possible to support both you and your partner.

The restricted visiting hours from 3 pm- 8 pm together with restrictions to the number of visitors was introduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the virus spreads incredibly quickly and the less close contact we have with another, the less risk there is of exposure.

Health services in particular need to keep in mind that patients in hospital and newborns are vulnerable and are at greater risk of any infection that may be transmitted unknowingly by a member of the community. We will continue to try to balance the rights of individuals with the rights of the many within our hospital and community.

I wish you and your partner much joy with your new baby.

Kind regards,

Janet Zagari

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Update posted by Scared New Mum (the patient)

Dear Janet,

Thank you for responding to my post, I appreciate that it has been read and considered. Unfortunately, I haven’t been reassured or further informed by the content of your post. The information you shared about partners being present during and immediately after a birth is publicly available and so I was aware of this.

I fully understand that limiting visitor numbers is important right now, and I intend to have nobody aside from my partner come to visit during my (up to) 5 day stay) at Osborne Park, for that exact reason.

My original post was more so querying the following:

1. Are there any exceptions to the 3-8pm visiting hours for the partners of patients who need physical and practical support follow cesarean section? If so, what does this look like?

2. If no exceptions are allowed, how are current patients coping with feeding, changing and generally required movements in the days following a cesarean? Is there extra staffing in place to accomodate what I can only assume is very involved support requirements from such patients?

3. Are the visiting hours at Osborne Park Hospital likely time be extended in line with other north metro hospitals? I notice that your job titles mentions Sir Charles Gairdener Hospital where visiting hours also include an 11-1pm time-slot. Will these extra hours be extended to Osborne Park?

I really look forward to getting a clearer picture of what to expect next week. My partner will need to manage his work schedule around the allowed visiting hours, therefore we need to know in advance exactly where we stand to allow for that. While he originally intended to take a few weeks off initially, it seems pointless for him to do so if he can’t see his baby and I until the late afternoon for the first five days.

Response from Chris Cullen, Director Safety, Quality and Performance, Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group 3 years ago
We have made a change
Chris Cullen
Director Safety, Quality and Performance,
Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group

Submitted on 29/07/2020 at 8:21 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 30/07/2020 at 8:46 AM

Dear Scared New Mum,

Thank you for your further query regarding visiting hours at Osborne Park Hospital. I can advise that the visiting hours have now been extended to include the 11 am to 1 pm time slot within the Women’s and Newborn unit.

With regards to providing care following birth, we are very fortunate to have a dedicated team of midwives who are committed to providing the women in their care with support they need to assist them with their recovery and with caring for their baby.

I am very pleased to assure you that we have been carefully monitoring our quality of care indicators and have been advised that despite the restrictions implemented that our most recent audit has not demonstrated any decline in breastfeeding rates.

I do hope that I have been able to address your concerns and wish you all the best on the arrival of your new baby.

Kind regards,

Janet Zagari

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