Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers has called on the HSE to urgently review Covid-19 restrictions in place at maternity hospitals across the country.
Speaking on the matter Senator Chambers said: "We have had almost six months of severe restrictions on pregnant women accessing maternity services and it is time we found another way because we are causing trauma to thousands of women.”
"Pregnant women are attending anomaly scans alone with some tragically receiving terrible news about their pregnancy without their partner present.
"We have women labouring alone and are only allowed have a partner with them when the baby is about to be delivered. Once the baby arrives the partner is asked to leave shortly after and is not allowed to visit. All of these restrictions are causing huge upset and trauma to women and it is being ignored.”
"Many first time mothers have reported finding the experience very frightening and traumatic and women are discharging themselves from hospital earlier than normal rather than wait in hospital alone without their partner.”
"I have spoken directly to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly and appealed for this policy to be reviewed urgently. I understand individual hospitals are looking at how restrictions can be eased to allow partners in but this must happen without further delay. COVID-19 will be with us for months to come, we must find a way to protect women accessing maternity services while ensuring partners can be present."
