Partners can now join mothers-to-be at scans in Black Country and Staffordshire

Partners will need to take a lateral flow test before appointments at Walsall Manor Hospital, Russells Hall Hospital and New Cross Hospital – and then upload the result to the national website.

At Walsall, they will also be welcomed at face-to-face outpatient consultations and pre-booked appointments at the Foetal Assessment Unit – as long as they have a negative test result. The used tests should not be brought into hospital.

While at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, birth partners are able to attend all scans and antenatal consultant clinic appointments at both Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital.

Various restrictions have been in place since March last year, as hospital trusts worked to minimise infection risk during the Covid-19 pandemic and make maternity services as safe as possible during this time.

Now, in line with recommendations from NHS England, one identified partner can accompany mums-to-be for the appointments. Partners will still not able to be present for any other scans, blood tests or walk-in appointments.

Carla Jones-Charles, divisional director of midwifery, gynaecology and sexual health and Alan Deacon, divisional director of clinical support services at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We know these past few months have been extremely difficult for mums-to-be but their safety has had to be our top priority and we couldn’t ignore the high incidence of Covid-19 infection in the local population.

“We are so pleased to be able to lift many restrictions to ensure women have the support they need in pregnancy and birth and look forward to welcoming partners back to the hospital.

“Partners will need to have lateral flow tests and full details of how they can access these free tests, along with how to use them, are available on our website and across Walsall Healthcare’s Facebook and Twitter. We will try to support those without internet access or a smartphone if they contact us ahead of the appointment.

“We are asking everyone who uses our services to continue to play their part in reducing infection risk by wearing a face covering, washing their hands or using the hand sanitiser provided and maintaining a two-metre distance.”

A spokesman for the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust said: “In order to attend, support partners must provide a negative Covid-19 test result on arrival so we can protect our patients and staff.

“Our staff have worked tirelessly to put in the appropriate safety measures to allow this change and we would like to thank you for your continued patience.”

Diane Wake, chief executive at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Here at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, we fully understand the importance of women having the support of a partner or companion during key appointments and scans.”

“We know this announcement will be a relief to our expectant mothers who have been patiently awaiting this news in recent weeks. Pregnant women are classed as vulnerable so to keep them, our staff and other patients safe, we have introduced a number of measures including the need for support partners to provide a negative lateral flow Covid test beforehand and wear a face mask.

“I would encourage both expectant mothers and partners to visit our website in advance for details on all of the steps they need to take before attending their appointment.”

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust has been approached for comment.