Over 52,000 people signed a petition that calls for partners to be allowed at maternity services

More than 52,000 people signed a petition calling for all maternity hospitals to allow partners in maternity services.

This includes the participation of partners in appointments and scans, as well as for the entire duration of labour. The petition also requires partners to be allowed to visit the hospital during their stay in the hospital.

The petition was handed over to Cork University Maternity Hospital yesterday morning and will be delivered to all maternity hospitals in the coming weeks.

Siobhan O’Donoghue, director of the community campaign group Uplift, said that being pregnant is a momentous moment in anyone’s life. She added that while it may be full of joy, it may also be full of stress, trauma and sadness.

Ms. O’Donoghue suggested that couples should be categorised as pods because they live together and sleep together. She noted that in this situation women need love and care the most.

The South / Southwest Hospital Group said in a statement that it fully understands the challenges of visiting restrictions on its four maternity hospitals. However, it added that access to maternity wards should be reduced to limit the risk of transmission of the virus, as COVID-19 is still prevalent in the community.

The visiting restrictions will be reviewed on a weekly basis and the approach is based on consensus from all hospitals and units, the statement said.