Closed petition Allow birthing partners to be present at scans, the start of labour, birth and after the birth.
Due to COVID-19 there has been restrictions on birthing partners being present for scans, labour and birth in many hospitals.
There hasn’t been many reviews on this topic, if any at all.
It seems unfair, and an insult to new families that they can stand 2m apart from complete strangers down the beach or even in a shop, but they cannot have their partner or birthing partner there to witness first time experiences such as scans, the baby’s heart beat, labour and birth.
It needs to change.
This petition is now under consideration by the Petitions Committee
Petitions that collect more than 50 signatures are discussed by the Petitions Committee
Find out about the Petitions Committee’s discussion of this petition
7,326 signatures
10,000
The Petitions Committee decided not to refer this petition for a debate
The Committee agreed to consider the petition further through written correspondence due to the fact that a debate had been held on the same substantive subject, during which the petition was raised: https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/11042#A62991
Other Senedd business
Plenary debate and updated Welsh Government guidance
The Senedd debated Support for babies and new parents during Covid-19 on Wednesday 9 December.
You can watch the debate here: http://www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Archive/a0ebf581-8d41-469d-82a2-0aae3bbc724c?startPos=9923&autostart=True
Or read the transcript here: https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/11042#A62991
The Welsh Government has also published updated guidance on hospital visits during the coronavirus outbreak, which includes specific information about maternity services: https://gov.wales/hospital-visiting-during-coronavirus-outbreak-guidance-html#section-56377