Changes are being made to maternity care to protect women and babies in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

No visiting is currently allowed at the Jane Crookall maternity unit.

Further measures for pregnant women are being introduced over the coming weeks and a letters are being sent out from the maternity team advising them of these changes.

Only one person will be allowed to attend with a mother at the time of ultrasound scan.

Women in labour can only be accompanied by one birth partner, who will be asked to leave the unit after the baby has been born.

For mothers who meet a set criteria, the plan is for mums to go home six hours after giving birth, rather than remaining in hospital.

They are being asked to bring a car seat into hospital with them on admission to the ward so that this can be ready to use when it is time to go home.

It’s proposed that most antenatal appointments are conducted in the community, rather than at Noble’s.

This would include a woman’s first appointment with the midwife, as well as subsequent routine check-ups and meetings during her pregnancy.

Some appointments will continue on a face-to-face basis at a GP surgery or other suitable venue, while others will be conducted by telephone, including conversations with an obstetrician where appropriate.

Ultrasound scans, when clinically indicated, will take place at Noble’s Hospital and arrangements for women who need follow-up appointments and further scans will be made to suit individual circumstances.

Post-natal checks and baby clinics have also been reorganised, with home visits being replaced with regional clinics on a hub basis.

The changes in the service follow UK NICE guidance for maternity care.

Replacing face-to-face visits with telephone consultations and reducing non-urgent appointments are in the interest of patient safety, and will minimise coronavirus exposure risk during the current outbreak.

Lead consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Michele Moroney said: ’We need to continue to provide a safe and effective service for pregnant women and at the same time minimise coronavirus exposure risk.

’Many aspects of pregnancy assessment and planning can be conducted by phone.

’Our aim is to continue to deliver effective care and at the same time, minimise direct contact. The danger of infection in pregnant women is probably low but still being understood.’

See details of the plan for maternity care at: https://covid19.gov.im/health-wellbeing/pregnancy/