Rotunda Hospital says that partners will need Covid cert to enter hospital

The hospital recently updated their restrictions.

While many expected restrictions to be eased in maternity hospitals it seems that for some hospitals they are in fact becoming stricter. The Rotunda Hospital in Dublin recently updated their health and safety restrictions to include Covid certs for birthing partners. Under the new visitation guidelines for those accompanying expectant mothers Covid certs will now be required along with face masks. The new Covid cert restrictions will come into place from the start of next month;

"The National Public Health Emergency Team has recently recommended that the ‘COVID Pass/Certificate’ be adopted as a requirement for visitation to healthcare settings. With this in mind, nominated companions visiting the Hospital will be requested to provide their COVID pass as part of our safety screening process at our front entrance, from 1st December."

All those attending the hospital will be required to wear face masks. Over the last year and a half there have been several protests from parents and families outraged at the restrictions being placed on maternity hospitals. During the most recent protest outside of the Dail, Linda Kelly from Better Maternity Care, told the crowd:

“The lack of compliance from hospitals, who believe they can rip up national guidelines and do whatever the hell they want, is not maternity care. We stand here in the rain, demanding better maternity care today.”

At the moment it is not clear if all maternity hospitals will now be requiring Covid certs as restrictions seem to differ from hospital to hospital, but the latest Covid restrictions are sure to be met with criticism. As it stands the Covid cert requirement will not come into enforcement at the Rotunda until the 1st of December this year, so birthing partners currently attending the hospital should be free to visit this month without presenting certification.