Changes to Maternity Services during COVID-19 pandemic

Updated January 2020

We understand that many of you will be worried about the ongoing coronavirus ( COVID-19) pandemic and what impact that this might have on your pregnancy, birth and following the birth of your baby.

We would like to reassure you that all of our hospitals and birth units providing maternity care in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (Salisbury) remain open to provide maternity services and that you are supported in your pregnancy. We are still here to help and support you throughout your pregnancy and journey into parenthood.

Together with the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Maternity Voices Partnership Plus we have created a list of frequently asked questions to reassure you at this difficult time that although there are a few changes to the maternity services, these have been made to ensure your safety, and the safety of the maternity staff.

Please note that information is changing daily, we strongly advise you contact your own midwife, doctor or local hospital website for the most up to information and recommendations relating to your area. Contact details can be found on your local hospital website

Across the areas of Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire (Salisbury) we aim to keep services the same. However in all areas there will be some differences in care due to local prevalence of COVID-19, the physical space available at each maternity unit and the number of pregnant women and people requiring care. We want to ensure a safe environment for all and ensure social distancing requirements can be met.

Maternity Services recognise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and birthing people and particularly their partners and we want to reassure you that we are aiming to resume normal services as swiftly as possible as the prevalence of COVID-19 reduces in our local area.

To enable us to ensure that you have the most up to date information for care within the area that you live we encourage all pregnant women, mums and partners to access your local hospitals website. Here you will find up to date information relating to important issues such as visiting policies, birth partners and contact numbers if you have any concerns. Contact numbers are also available on these websites. Please do not hesitate to contact maternity services if you have any concerns.

Royal United Hospital, Bath: www.ruh.nhs.uk/patients/services/maternity/index.asp

Great Western Hospital, Swindon: www.gwh.nhs.uk/wards-and-services/a-to-z/maternity-services/

Salisbury Foundation Trust:  www.salisbury.nhs.uk/InformationForPatients/Departments/Maternity/Pages/Home.aspx