We appreciate that the arrival of a baby is a special event and that relatives and friends will wish to visit women who are in hospital both before and after the birth of a baby.

However for a number of reasons, including security, infection control and the privacy and dignity of other women, we need to limit the number of visitors around a bed at any one time.

Therefore the maternity team has agreed that on B5, B6 and B7 wards the patient’s partner plus two other visitors may visit at any one time. In normal circumstances, partners are not able to stay overnight once baby has been born, for the privacy of other women on the unit and the security of the babies.  

Visitors are limited to 2 nominated birth partners only in B8 (the labour Ward)

Visiting hours on B5, B6 and B7 are as follows;

• Partner visiting is between 9am – 9pm
• For all other visitors, visiting is between 2:30pm – 4:30pm and 6:30pm – 8:30pm.

Visitors will be issued with a coloured pass on arrival at the inpatient reception for B6 and B7 and once both passes have been issued, we regret that no further visitors will be permitted on to the ward.

Patients’ own children do not require passes and are permitted to visit but we regret that no other children are permitted to visit.

Patients and visitors are asked to ensure each pass is handed back to Reception before leaving and visitors are also asked to please wait in the refreshment areas of the main hospital if waiting for a pass to become available and not to congregate in the corridor outside the maternity unit.

We are monitoring and adapting this pass system regularly to meet the needs of the patients whilst also complying with Trust requirements.

The Maternity Department reserves the right to request that visitors leave if patient care or safety is compromised.