This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Rejected petition Allow birthing partners to attend pregnancy scans and antenatal appointments.
To encourage NHS Hospital Trusts to allow at least one birthing partner to attend pregnancy scans and antenatal appointments with pregnant women. For example by publishing guidance which clearly and explicitly outlines a policy which can be adopted to protect the staff and patients who attend.
More details
Women who fell pregnant prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic have had to endure their maternity care alone, without the support of birthing partners. This was necessary at the start of the pandemic, however with government actively encouraging people to kick-start the economy (such as the 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme) it is becoming increasingly unfair on both parents to continue to prevent attendance at maternity appointments. First time parents in particular have been forgotten by trusts.
This petition was rejected
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.
Individual hospitals and clinics, not the UK Government or House of Commons, decide who can attend scans and antenatal appointments.
You should check with your maternity team and sonography unit for their policy on who can attend antenatal appointments, including scans.
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.