One of Ireland's largest maternity hospitals, the Coombe in Dublin's south inner city, has announced it is easing some of the restrictions around partners' visiting rights.
In a post on Twitter this evening, the hospital said that from this Monday, 16 August, pre-Covid visiting will return at the maternity centre.
If you're the designated partner of a patient, you will be allowed to visit from 9.30am to 12 noon as well as between 2.30pm to 4.30pm and from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
The move follows a decision yesterday by the National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street to allow the partner of a pregnant woman or a support person to attend most appointments.
Visiting for partners will be unrestricted for inpatient appointments between 8am and 9pm, as well as for when a woman is in labour and has been admitted to a bed.
There are also unrestricted partner visits to attend the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit and the anomaly scan (20-week scan).
On Wednesday, the Master of the Rotunda Maternity Hospital said restrictions at the hospital could be loosened if there was a higher uptake of Covid-19 vaccinations among patients and visitors.
Professor Fergal Malone urged pregnant women and their partners to get a vaccine, saying the high vaccination uptake in the general population was not reflected in maternity hospitals.
From Monday 16/8, pre covid visiting returns during 9.30am to 12 noon, 2.30pm to 4.30pm and 6.30pm to 8.30pm if you're the designated partner of a patient . @DMHospitalGroup pic.twitter.com/oPWQELs3Jc
— Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital (@CoombeHospital) August 13, 2021
