Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Sherlock for raising an issue that has been of significant concern for women and their partners. I fully appreciate that limitations on partners accessing maternity services have been very difficult for women and their families during the Covid-19 pandemic. The current version of the HSE guidance on access to acute hospitals for nominated support partners in maternity services was implemented on 21 February 2022. The guidance recognises the central role the nominated support partner plays in supporting and advocating for a woman engaging with our maternity services. It recognises that such a support person also has a right to be present and participate in the care process to the greatest practical degree.

Maternity services are focused on maximising access for nominated support partners in the context of the current guidance. The objective of the guidance is to keep maternity services safe, support the woman and facilitate access for the nominated support partner. The clinical advice has always been focused on the potential for Covid-19 to spread in maternity services, and the highest priority is protecting the health and safety of the women and babies in our care. While guidance remains in place, it is important to recognise that it is a very different situation now from the position in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. The HSE's guidance has significantly reduced limitations on access for nominated support partners.

The latest guidance again sets out that controls on access for support partners should be the minimum required to manage infection prevention and control risks, and any limitations on access must be clearly explained and should be applied with consideration for individual circumstances and needs. The guidance specifics that once a woman reaches her bed space or room, the nominated partner should have open access between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. The guidance is quite broad in its scope, facilitating access for partners where women are attending antenatal scans, during labour and childbirth, during postnatal care and on arrival for labour or induction of labour during the initial assessment process. I am happy to inform the Senator that the HSE is currently reviewing the clinical guidance on the remaining access limitations as the recent surge in cases shows signs of reducing.

The HSE has advised that every possible effort continues to be made to provide maximum access for nominated support partners in maternity settings. Women are encouraged to raise any concerns pertaining to partner access and every effort is being made to address those concerns. Information on websites is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect any adjustments in access, and risk assessments are undertaken in circumstances where it is not possible to comply with the current guidance.

I assure the Senator that the decisions to restrict attendance in maternity hospitals were not taken lightly. The HSE has assured the Department that every effort continues to be made to maximise access for partners in maternity services and the guidance on remaining access limitations is currently under review.