NEW RULES that allow partners to accompany pregnant mothers to antenatal scans at Basingstoke hospital have come into effect.

And the trust that runs the hospital has revealed that the policy has now been widened, allowing partners to attend more scans and clinics.

As previously reported by The Gazette, partners and chaperones were stopped from attending scans with pregnant mothers back in April due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But it was announced last month that Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who run Basingstoke hospital, were reverting their rules to allow partners in as well.

And a message posted on the HHFT Facebook page this evening (Thursday) reveals that partners are now allowed into other scans and antenatal clinics.

A spokesperson said: "After initially allowing a single one partner/support person to attend the obstetric ultrasound scan at 12 and 20 weeks, the decision has now been made to welcome partners back into the booking, additional scan appointments and antenatal clinics.

"Guidelines remain in place for those coming in to the hospitals to ensure the safety of patients and staff, including following social distancing measures, wearing a face mask and regular hand washing.

"Partners coming into the maternity departments will be asked to wait outside the department or in their car, before being invited in as the appointment will commence. This is due to limited waiting room capacities."

An online campaign highlighted that some women were finding out about pregnancy loss at a scan without any support, fathers were missing births, and other birthing partners were not allowed with women during labour.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Rcog) called on the NHS to publish guidance on partners attending births and scans.

The guidance has now been published and sets out how services can resume to some sort of normality while still operating in a safe way during the pandemic.

It advises hospitals to “regularly review” policies and tailor them to take account of risks such as local trends in Covid-19 and the current national pandemic situation.