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Opening Hours in Maternity Ward

Posted By beidrg78

"Opening Hours in Maternity Ward"

About: King Edward Memorial Hospital / Maternity

(as a service user),

I am due to give birth soon at KEMH and have recently been advised that due to COVID restrictions visiting hours at KEMH have been restricted to 3pm-7pm, which includes partners of newborns on the labour ward. This means that partners have a 4hr window every day which they can bond with their newborns and support their partners (regardless of the situation).

Studies prove that bonding with both parents is essential for infants in their first few days to promote attachment (they even preach this in the hospital's prenatal classes). Also, in my opinion, emotional support for a new mother (being so vulnerable and hormonal), not to mention the physical support, by partners is absolutely vital in these days. I have extreme anxiety for the days after birth given the challenges I may face (being high risk), let alone without my partner's support. KEMH have advised they are very strict with the visiting hours regardless of the birth/situation. 

I've undertaken some research and other states restrict visiting hours for everyone with the exception of one support person. It seems nonsensical to me to have more stringent rules than every other state (even the high-risk birthing hospitals in VIC and NSW), given our current position with COVID and willingness to revert to semi-normal life in every other way.

I'd understand and appreciate this if these hours were applied to other visitors, but not partners/fathers. For example, there is a hospital in Melbourne that allow partners between 8am and 8pm, with everyone else allowed between 2.30pm and 8pm. In my opinion, that makes more sense.

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Responses

Response from Matthew Skinner, Director Clinical Services, Women and Newborn Health Service 4 years ago
Matthew Skinner
Director Clinical Services,
Women and Newborn Health Service

Submitted on 20/01/2021 at 11:52 AM
Published on Care Opinion Australia on 21/01/2021 at 1:01 PM

Dear beidrg78,

Thank you for taking the time to write to us to raise your concerns around visiting hours at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH).

The progress that Western Australia (WA) is making as a community has resulted in the Government announcing amendments to the COVID-19 restrictions put in place.

This included a cautious transition to a controlled interstate border regime, with controls in place that will continue to protect our community. Because of this progress, the Hospital Executive have implemented changes to the COVID-19 restrictions at the hospital.

The current restrictions in the Labour and Birth Suite are as follows:

* Two people are permitted during your birth on the labour and birth suite – one essential birth partner and one supporter.

* Only your essential birth partner can stay with you between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm daily on the postnatal wards. This person must remain the same for the duration of your stay.

* Only your essential birth partner is permitted in theatre.
Your second support person becomes a visitor once you are transferred to the postnatal wards.

The following restrictions apply for visitors:

* Anyone other than an essential birth partner is considered a visitor and must only visit the hospital between standard visiting hours 3 pm to 7 pm daily. Up to two visitors can visit at any one time.

Babies are precious, and we are doing everything we can to keep them safe as well as taking all reasonable precautions to protect the safety of pregnant women, new mums, their family and to preserve our critical frontline health staff during these difficult times. KEMH has committed to reviewing these restrictions again in three months, after the impact of the opening of the borders has been observed.

I wish you and your family all the best for the future.

Kind regards,

Matthew Skinner

Acting Executive Director

Women and Newborn Health Service

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