Local hospitals update their procedures

With the move to Level 2, local hospitals have shared how procedures will change.

Fourways Life Hospital and Netcare Sunninghill have updated their procedures following the move to Level 2.

Tanya Jenneker, the marketing manager for Fourways Life Hospital, said allowances would be made in their maternity and paediatric wards for events around the birth or hospitilisation of a child. They have also resumed elective surgeries.

She added that one parent at a time would be allowed to visit newborns. The parent will be subject to strict screening criteria prior to hospital admission.

A birth partner will be allowed during labour and delivery and one hour post-delivery.

The partner will be allowed in theatre during caesarean section and for one hour post-delivery.

This could be any partner of the patient’s choosing, however, the partner cannot be interchanged and will be subject to a screening process on entry to the hospital.

“Birth partners will be allowed to accompany the patient to antenatal visits,” she said.

“The birth partner will be screened as part of the normal screening process on entry to the hospital. Social distancing to be observed. The couple will remain in their vehicle until they are called into the rooms for their consultation.”

For antenatal visits, birth partners will be allowed to visit for one hour per day (not later than 8pm) until the day of discharge.

In the paediatric wards, only one parent at a time will be permitted to sleep-in with an admitted paediatric patient.

Jenneker said, “All other wards will still adhere to our no visitors policy.”

Pieter Louw, the general manager of Netcare Sunninghill Hospital said, “We are pleased to confirm that birthing partners may now accompany expectant mothers for antenatal visits in the gynecologist/obstetricians’ consulting rooms at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital. This is, however, on condition that the birthing partner has completed the screening questionnaire and temperature check, and that no risk factors have been identified in this process.

“On the expected delivery date, the birthing partner may attend the birth whether caesarean or normal delivery, however, we still require the birthing partner and mother to test for Covid-19 72 hours before the due date.”

Louw added that if the expectant mother and birth partner tested positive for the virus, the birthing partner may attend the birth in a designated Covid-19 zone labour theatre. “The partner will have to adhere to strict infection prevention precautions, and will have to leave the hospital after the birth. In cases where the expectant mother is Covid-19 negative and the birthing partner Covid-19 positive, the birthing partner will not be allowed to attend the birth as that is considered too great a risk. Mothers are therefore encouraged to consider a standby alternative birthing partner in advance.”

Partners who have not been tested for Covid-19 are required to undergo electronic screening at the hospital entrance and are allowed to visit the mother daily if no risk factors have been identified.