NHS Lanarkshire reassures pregnant women on maternity service provision and offers advice for those who are self-isolating and facing an emergency.

Cheryl Clark, NHS Lanarkshire chief midwife, said:

“At this time, there are some changes to maternity service provision within NHS Lanarkshire.

“One birthing partner is very much welcome during labour. Your midwife will discuss postnatal visiting for partners only on a case-by-case basis. At this time, we are asking pregnant women who are scheduled to attend for ultrasound scans, appointments in our maternity day bed unit, antenatal clinics and maternity triage to attend on their own. This in line with Scottish government advice for pregnant women.

“We do have staffing challenges but the service continues to operate in a normal function. We are experiencing an unprecedented high volume of calls to our maternity triage department from pregnant women wishing advice on COVID-19.

“We urge all pregnant women who are self-isolating to contact their community midwife to discuss their antenatal care and to contact maternity triage in emergency situations such as abdominal pain or concerns with your baby’s movement.”

Further details including contact details can be found on NHS Lanarkshire’s maternity services webpage.

Unfortunately a number of patients were sent a text message on Wednesday 18 March informing them that ultrasound and consultant appointments at University Hospital Wishaw were being cancelled.

Cheryl continued: “This text was sent in error and we have personally contacted all those who received this incorrect text to reassure them their appointment is going ahead as scheduled.

“We sincerely apologise for this error and for any confusion or concern it caused.”

Guidance for pregnant women and the maternity professionals who look after them has been produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and is available here.

For the latest information on COVID-19, please continue to visit the NHS Inform website.