The evolving COVID-19 situation in the ACT, requires a continued restriction to access to health facilities in the ACT for the safety of patients and staff.
Visitors are not permitted to enter health facilities in the ACT unless in exceptional circumstances such as end of life, birthing or for paediatric care.
Please note, whether you are COVID positive or a close contact we will provide a plan for your safe care within our hospital. Our arrangements are as follows
Women in labour or women having a planned caesarean birth
If you are in labour or are having a planned caesarean birth, please call us before coming to the hospital. We will ask you some screening questions to ensure everyone’s safety when you attend. Your handheld maternity record has the number to call on the back.
Please be assured we will not turn you away for any reason, but we may need to take extra precautions to ensure everyone’s safety.
Support person
One nominated support person is allowed during labour (or a planned caesarean birth) and after the birth (the postnatal period) until you are discharged.
You cannot swap support people during the birth or after the birth.
If your support person is in isolation/quarantine, even if they have no symptoms, they will not be allowed to enter the hospital and you will need to nominate another support person. This is to protect you, your baby and all other patients in the hospital.
The usual screening tests and vaccinations will be available after your baby’s birth.
Women with confirmed or suspected COVID-19
If you have COVID-19, we will not turn you away, we are here to support you as usual.
We have a dedicated birthing room midwife that will be allocated to your care. Our team will be wearing full protective equipment (PPE).
If you have COVID-19 you will be required to wear a mask during labour. This is to protect you, your support person and our staff. Your support person will also need to wear a mask.
If you have respiratory symptoms, a COVID-19 swab will be taken, and you will need to wear a mask during the second and third phases of labour (pushing, delivery and delivery of the placenta).
Women admitted for pregnancy concerns but are not in labour
You will not be allowed a support person unless you are admitted to hospital in exceptional circumstances such as perinatal loss or you require a support person for normal caring activities. Our staff will work with each woman to ensure we achieve both safety for our staff and all our patients and provide the appropriate supportive environment for the best outcomes.
If you are not permitted a visitor, staff will assist you in maintaining contact with your loved ones through phone and video contact.
Coming to hospital for ante-natal or gynaecological appointments
We ask that you attend your outpatient antenatal or gynaecological appointment alone.
This includes:
- Antenatal
- Fetal Medicine Unit
- Gynaecology outpatient visits and
- visits to the Maternity Assessment Unit.
We are still offering maternity appointments as usual. We can offer you a telehealth appointment if you prefer not to attend your appointment in person. Please let us know.
If you have an appointment but are in self-isolation/quarantine, please call us so we can assess you and discuss plans for your ongoing care.
A support person will be allowed if there are compassionate reasons. Please talk to clinic staff if you believe you need a support person with you for your appointment.
You will be required to wear a mask while at the hospital, including during the appointment and in the waiting room. We will provide you with a surgical mask on arrival.
Postnatal care
Once you are home, a Midcall Midwife will contact you daily to discuss any concerns. They will then arrange to see you face to face in your home, dependent on your needs.
We ask that only the mother and baby are in the room when we visit your home.
Our staff will wear a mask when we visit you at home. We will also ask the mother to wear a mask.
Paediatric care
Admitted babies, children and young people (0-17 years) may have one parent/carer per day.
If both parents are isolating then the family can nominate another visitor. That visitor can then become the designated visitor until the family can return. The parent/guardian/visitor must wear a mask. If the child is 12 years of age or older, they must also wear a mask, unless there are valid reasons not to.
Paediatric surgery
If attending hospital for paediatric surgery, your child must be accompanied by the parent or guardian who signed the surgery consent form.
This person is allowed to stay for the duration of the inpatient stay.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nursery
For patients admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU) or the Special Care Nursery(SCN), one parent/carer is able to attend at a time, with up to two parents/carers a day. We ask that parents/ carers swap over outside the hospital.
If both parents/carers are isolating you can nominate another visitor. That visitor can then become the designated visitor until the family can return to NICU/SCN. You are required to notify staff of your request for another visitor during your isolation.
Attending appointments in Community facilities
We are continuing to offer services for women, children and families in community facilities, including community health centres, child health clinics and the child and family centres. Many of these will be provided by phone or via telehealth.
If you are attending an appointment in a community facility in person, for example, to get your child immunised or for a developmental check, only one parent or carer may accompany the child to the appointment. No other children may be brought to the appointment.
If you need a support person to attend the appointment an exemption may be considered.
