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COVID-19 in the community has made us change our practices to keep those people needing to access maternity care as safe as we can. Apart from the well-known practices of social distancing, hand hygiene and cough etiquette we have put the following practices in place to help keep everyone safe.
Our practices
| Open |
It is important to remember that maternity services are still open. Although some things might be slightly different, you will still receive the care that you and your baby need. Please let the maternity unit know (ph:6777 8962 - 8:00 am to 8:00 pm) if you have received a positive COVID-19 result so that we can develop a specific plan to care for you. |
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| Health Screening | You will need to complete your health screening (QR Code below) before attending any appointments or the birth suite. If you get a red response, please ring the maternity unit (Pregnancy Clinic or Birth Suite) for further instructions. |
| Antenatal |
Your pregnancy checks will continue as needed. You may notice some changes like shorter visits and using telephone/telehealth consultations where we can. The rooms in the Pregnancy clinic are not big enough to allow for social distancing if extra people attend your appointments, so you are asked to attend alone. We can organise telehealth appointments if you have any issues that need to be discussed that you wish your partner to be involved in. |
| Labour / Birth |
Please phone the birth suite before your arrival. We will ask what colour response you have for your health screening to help us plan your care to what you need and keep everyone safe. You will receive care and support even if you think that you, or anyone in your home, may have COVID-19. You will be able to have one birth partner (support person) with you in labour. If your birth partner is COVID positive, they will be able to remain with you provided they do not have symptoms (eg. cough, fever, sore throat or shortness of breath). If your partner has symptoms, they will not be able to enter the maternity unit. If this happens you can ask another person to accompany you. |
| Postnatal |
The best place for you and your baby, if you are both well, is at home. If you and your baby are clinically well, we will be strongly encouraging early discharge from the maternity unit and will continue to support you at home with midwifery visits. There are some reasons why women and their babies need to stay in the maternity unit. Visiting may be restricted during this time. |
| Visitors |
Sometimes people are COVID-19 positive but don’t have any symptoms. This is especially common in children. One visitor per patient can visit the postnatal ward (for 30 minutes at a time). |
| If you have COVID-19 |
If you or your partner have COVID-19 when you are giving birth, we will do whatever we can to keep you Together as a family. However:
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Covid-19 Health Screening
We ask that you complete your COVID Health Screening before any presentation to the hospital.
Please scan the QR code below (or access LGH General Hospital Precinct Health Screening) and answer the questions. When you ring the unit prior to coming to the hospital, the staff will ask whether you have a “Green” or “Red” response, as the way you are greeted and admitted to the ward will differ depending on which response you have received.
You will not be able to enter the ward unless you have completed the screening.
