WOMEN giving birth at Bradford and Airedale hospitals felt more isolated than ever during the coronavirus pandemic, a survey suggests.

The National Childbirth Trust said the removal of support from partners or family members as a result of Covid-19 restrictions caused extreme anxiety and fear for expectant mothers.

The Care Quality Commission polled 23,000 women aged 16 and over across England who gave birth in February 2021 on their experience of maternity services – including 108 at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and 162 at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

Patients were asked a range of questions and gave a score between 0 – indicating a very negative experience – and 10, representing the best possible result.

When asked if their partner or someone else was able to stay with them as much as they wanted, mothers gave Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust an average score of just 2.3 out of 10.

This was down from 8.7 in 2019 – the last time the survey was held – and the lowest figure since it began in 2015.

When asked if their partner or someone else was able to stay with them as much as they wanted, mothers gave Airedale Hospital an average score of just 2.9 out of 10. This was down from 9.6 in 2019.

Across England, a score of 3.5 was awarded for the same question, compared to 7.5 two years earlier.

Just 34 per cent of women said their partner was able to be with them as much as they wished – down significantly from 74 per cent two years earlier, and the lowest proportion on record.

Elizabeth Duff, senior policy adviser at the NCT, said: "The impact of the removal of this support and advocacy can be immense.

"We have heard reports of women experiencing extreme anxiety, fear and isolation as a result."

Just 61 per cent of women nationally said they saw or spoke to a midwife as much as they wanted during the postnatal period, which Ms Duff said is an area of great concern.

Mothers gave Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust a score of 7.3 out of 10 for whether they were left alone by midwives or doctors at a worrying time.

Airedale Hospital was given a score of 7.4 out of 10 for how much they saw or spoke to a midwife, and 8.6 for whether they received the help needed from a midwifery team.

Meanwhile, Airedale was given a score of ​8.5 for its mental health support.

Despite restrictions in place, almost all of the women polled across England said they were treated with respect and dignity, and that they had confidence and trust in staff.

Sarah Simpson, Head of Midwifery at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust said: “We’d like to thank all the women who shared their experiences. Listening to a woman’s experiences of the care she and her baby have received is so important, it really helps us to continually improve and shape our services in the future. 

"We’ve received some really positive feedback and I’m delighted for our staff who have worked exceptionally hard throughout the pandemic.

“Understandably women in all trusts have shared their difficulties that Covid-19 restrictions have caused and we recognise how important these are for our patients and their birth partners.

“We were in a very fortunate position pre-pandemic that partners were able to stay on our maternity unit, including overnight, and I can understand that the contrast with the restrictions since then has been significant.  We continue to regularly review the national guidance on hospital visiting and will increase birth partners’ visiting times as soon as it is safe to do so.

“We are also working to provide postnatal clinics in the community to offer as an alternative to home visits, and working with our midwives to review and improve the information offered on the options of where to have your baby, particularly in relation to homebirth.

“We have lots of new and exciting developments planned, including a new maternity website and online self-referral form that will improve how women are able to access our services and how they get information. 

“We also have our Maternity Voices Partnership Group, which makes sure we have women’s voices at the centre of everything we do.”

Have you given birth during the pandemic? If you would like to share your experience with us please email newsdesk@telegraphandargus.co.uk or contact us here.

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