At present the national guidance outlines that a named partner should be able to accompany pregnant women into key appointments. Unfortunately not all hospitals have agreed to this, inclusive of Northampton General Hospital. 

The pandemic is scary enough to bring a child into, going into appointments alone can cause stress and anxiety for the mother of the baby as well as removing the partner from what is an important process which can have an adverse effect later down the line. 

I am starting this petition with hope that NGH and other hospitals see how serious this issue is and allow one named individual to accompany women to their key appointments for emotional support.  

Its disheartening that NGH are unable to show the data behind their decision made and what Covid and R rate numbers will trigger them to change their decision at any point, all Trusts should have a strategy to outline when and how this will be changed at any point, and until this is shared I along with many others have little faith in the system.

The hospital are not currently listening to the voice of those who are pregnant in the area, many women in the local Northampton Maternity Voices Group have shared that mental health into and wellbeing of new mums and their partners has nor been considered within the process. 

Partner involvement has an impact on the childs bond and development, Northampton is already behind on so many areas with childrens development surely the future generations need to be supported to have the best start, healthy babies start with healthy mums and the chances of pre natal/ postnatal depression are higher for both parents within this situation. It takes a village to raise a child, so why is it okay to separate a child from their father hours after being born and ask them only to return as a visitor when they are an equal parent, caregiver and contributor to the parenting process as well as support for the mother. 

Please help us to support this cause and show NGH how much it is affecting new families across the county.