Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department’s guidance Framework to assist NHS trusts to reintroduce access for partners, visitors and other supporters of pregnant women in English maternity services, published on 8 September 2020, how many NHS Trusts have (a) undertaken a risk assessment to facilitate updating their visiting policies and (b) taken steps towards permitting access to women’s partners, visitors or other supporters, whilst maintaining the safety of all service users, staff and visitors, as set out in that guidance.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have made it clear that they expect all trusts to now use this Framework and consider how access can be safely reintroduced as a priority. Reintroducing visits is challenging during a pandemic, and the priority must remain the safety of all service users, staff and visitors. The published Framework therefore recommends a stepwise approach for National Health Service trusts to take, following a meaningful and documented risk assessment, so any necessary changes can be made before relaxing current stringent approaches.