AIMS welcomes the new 'Framework to assist NHS trusts to reintroduce access for partners, visitors and other supporters of pregnant women in English maternity services'.
AIMS hopes that this Framework will encourage and help Trusts to find ways of quickly removing restrictions on women being supported by a partner or other supporter at all hospital antenatal appointments and scans, throughout labour and birth, and during their postnatal stay in hospital.
Although many Trusts seem to be acting on this guidance and exploring innovative solutions, we are sad that we are still hearing from enquiries on the AIMS Helpline that some maternity services appear to be making no move to remove restrictions on supporters. AIMS hopes that all Trusts will take action and learn from other services that have successfully overcome the obstacles they face .
Where the Framework is being used effectively - in a way which commands the confidence of local service users - AIMS would expect to see an open and transparent decision-making process, including service users and with full disclosure of the basis for local decisions.
If you are being affected personally by Birth Partner restrictions please see our Template Letters
We hope that this page is of interest, especially to our colleagues in the maternity services improvement community.
The AIMS Campaigns Team relies on Volunteers to carry out its work. If you would like to collaborate with us, are looking for further information about our work, or would like to join our team, please email campaigns@aims.org.uk.
You are welcome to quote from or link to this article in your own work to improve maternity services but please credit AIMS as the source. If you are using a quote please include the following words: “Quote from the AIMS article {URL}. AIMS is a charity that works towards better births for all by campaigning and information sharing, protecting human rights in childbirth and helping maternity service users to know their rights, whatever birth they want, and wherever they want it. See www.aims.org.uk"
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