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COVID-19 update

Maternity services

Due to coronavirus we have introduced restrictions guided by NHS England to maintain the safety of all mothers and babies, and reduce the risk of any infection entering the wards. Please see the details below. We have also put together a frequently asked questions page to help with any queries you might have.

Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time. 

Labour and birth at St Michael's Hospital

  • A nominated non-symptomatic birthing partner is allowed to be with you during labour and the birth.
  • On transfer to the postnatal ward partners will not be able to join you and will only be allowed to return when you are discharged.
  • If you are being induced on the ward and go into labour, your birthing partner will be called and invited to support you before you are transferred to the delivery suite.
  • No visitors are allowed on the postnatal wards.
  • We are not currently supporting births at Ashcombe Birthing Centre in Weston.
  • If your baby needs to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), non-symptomatic parents can visit - two parents to the ICU rooms and one parent at a time in the HDU and SCBU rooms.

Appointments

  • You can be accompanied by one non-symptomatic person (ideally the birth partner) for the first trimester scan. For additional routine scans please attend the appointment on your own.
  • Children are not allowed in clinic or on the wards.
  • Consultant antenatal appointments and scans will continue as usual. Please attend these appointments on your own. Women will be offered telephone appointments where clinically appropriate.
  • Community midwifery clinics and home visits are still running as necessary, but women are being assessed and only essential face to face visits are being undertaken.
  • No antenatal classes and tours of the unit are currently running.

For fetal medicine and early pregnancy clinic appointments you can be accompanied by one non-symptomatic person.

If you have any questions, please contact your midwife.

Free WiFi is available to everyone in our hospitals so that patients can make phone or video calls to their family and friends using apps including Facetime, WhatsApp or Skype and mobile reception is available across our site.  

The maternity team have created this video to help explain some of the restrictions currently in place and what to expect when you give birth at St Michael's Hospital.

Sarah Windfeld Screen

Click here to view the video

This animation sets out what pregnant women should expect from NHS maternity services during the coronavirus. Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwifery Officer, and Dr Matthew Jolly, National Clinical Director for Maternity for the NHS in England explain what might change and why its important to keep in touch with your maternity team.

National Advice Video

Click here to view the video

NHS Volunteer Responders scheme

The NHS Volunteer Responders scheme is open to all pregnant people, not just those who are shielding or vulnerable.    

Volunteer responders can help with picking up shopping or prescriptions, lifts to/from hospital and health appointments. Call 0808 196 3646 or visit their website for more details.