Partners may be allowed to attend antenatal scans again

Sunday 21 February 2021

One of the many emotive issues raised by lockdown and its restrictions has been the inability for partners to attend antenatal scans with expectant mothers.

Early on in lockdown it was made clear in emergency regulations that birth partners weren’t allowed to attend theatre procedures such as C-sections or scan appointments.

The decision was met with concern from a number of expectant mothers we spoke to at the time. 

This issue was exacerbated by the inability for mothers to film their scans either for their partners. After one mother we spoke to was told it was due to ‘legal reasons’, we posed the issue to the Civil Contingency Authority on three occasions this week. 

Pictured: The Society of Radiographers represents nearly all diagnostic radiographers and sonographers in the UK, it encourages filming in certain circumstances.

We were told that the issue would be raised on Monday and then Wednesday with Guernsey’s Medical Director, Dr Peter Rabey. 

We have now been told that partners should be able to attend scans in Stage 1 of our exit from lockdown, although we are awaiting final confirmation of that. 

“I think what they’re going to be doing is looking at partners being able to attend antenatal scans next week,” said Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink.

Pictured: “[Attendance will be with] the appropriate social distancing and precautions, very much like pre-lockdown,” said Dr Brink.

Any confirmation of the relaxation of these rules should come next week.

“I think this is an area that I know has caused a lot of concern,” said Dr Brink.

“Dr Rabey and the team have looked at that in detail, and we’ll be looking at a changed policy next week.”