Labor and delivery visitor policies during Covid-19
Remember to phone your hospital a couple of days before you have to be admitted (if possible) to check if the procedures are still the same and what to expect.
Having a baby should be a positive and memorable experience, even during the pandemic.
The RECORD recently asked the Netcare group what their labor and delivery visitor policies are. Netcare’s visiting policy has been updated in line with the latest Covid-19 situation in South Africa.
“Our hospitals continue to act with an abundance of caution in the best interest of all maternity patients and newborns in our care, as well as that of our health-care workers,” said Jacques du Plessis, MD of Netcare’s hospital division.
Visitation to non-Covid-19 wards will be facilitated between 11am and 7pm daily, as per specific hospital and unit guidelines. It is advisable to ascertain with the hospital before the delivery date to check the latest maternity admission requirements and specific visiting times for the maternity unit.
“A birthing partner will be allowed to accompany the person giving birth, attend the delivery and stay with the mother when she is transferred to her room or ward. “Rooming-in will be allowed for birthing partners in instances where the facility has the appropriate accommodation.
Where rooming-in accommodation is not available, the partner will be allowed to visit the mother and rooming-in baby for the duration of the admission,” he said.
The following conditions apply to the above:
• The partner is required to present proof of negative Covid-19 status (PCR or antigen test) or will have to undergo an antigen test upon arrival for the birth.
• If the antigen test is negative and the partner is asymptomatic, rooming in or visiting will be allowed. However, should the partner be symptomatic, no visiting or rooming in will be permitted until the partner is asymptomatic with a negative PCR test.
• The partner will be required to adhere to strict infection prevention controls to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission to the mother and baby, other patients and health-care workers.
Nursery and neonatal intensive-care units (NICUs)
• Only one parent at a time is allowed to visit newborns in the nursery or NICU. This is on condition that the person(s) visiting presents proof of current negative status (PCR or antigen test result) and adheres to very strict infection prevention controls in place to minimise the risks to their baby, other patients and health-care workers.
• For long-term admissions (over one week) the visiting parent(s) will be required to test once per week to be able to continue visitation.
• Special requests for visitation (i.e. by siblings and grandparents) related to exceptional circumstance such as end-of-life situations can be made directly to the GM of the specific hospital.
Paediatrics
• Only one parent at a time is permitted to room in with their admitted child. This parent is required to present proof of negative status (PCR or antigen test result) upon admission of the child, and if this is not available will undergo a Covid-19 antigen test at admission.
• Intermittent testing during the stay may be required as locally determined.
• The parent(s) is also required to adhere to the strict infection prevention controls in place to minimise the risks to their child, other patients and health-care workers.
• In instances where a parent is not in a position to room in, daily visitation by one parent at a time will be allowed.
• For long-term admissions (over one week) the visiting parent(s) will be required to test once per week to be able to continue visitation. According to du Plessis, special requests for visitation (i.e. by siblings and grandparents) related to exceptional circumstance such as end-of-life situations can be made directly to the general manager of the specific hospital.
General guidelines
By adhering to the guidelines below during your visit, you will be doing your best to keep your family member, other patients and health-care workers safe:
• Visitors must undergo symptom and temperature screening upon arrival, perform hand hygiene and wear appropriate PPE at all times.
• Masks are required to be worn in such a way that they cover the visitor’s nose and mouth.
• If a visitor does not pass the screening process or does not follow hospital protocols, which include practising hand hygiene, wearing of an appropriate cloth or surgical mask (masks with a vent or a buff is not considered to be a sufficient barrier) and adhering to social or physical distancing, they will not be allowed to visit.
• Visitors are allowed to visit only one patient and will not be permitted to walk around the hospital or to visit other patients.
• Visitors may visit patients in the coffee shop as long as all of the required protocols are fully observed by both the visitor and the patient.
“Unfortunately, as before, visiting is not allowed in areas of hospitals where Covid-19 positive patients or people suspected of having Covid-19 are being treated, other than in end-of-life situations under the supervision of the hospital manager,” said du Plessis.
