Visiting Policy Update

• If you or anyone in your household has not had chickenpox and has had close contact with someone who has chickenpox in the last 3 weeks (21 days), please do not visit the hospital, even if you have no symptoms.

Why this matters:

• Chickenpox is highly contagious and can spread 1–2 days before a rash appears.
• Developing chickenpox during pregnancy can lead to severe birth defects (fetal varicella syndrome) or serious illness for the mother.
• Chickenpox in newborns can be life-threatening.

If you have developed chickenpox:

• Stay at home until all spots have crusted over (usually 5–7 days after onset).
• Inform our staff before planning a future visit.

 If you are pregnant and have been exposed to chickenpox, Please contact your GP or midwife that day to discuss getting tested for chickenpox immunity.

Antenatal Appointments

• One named nominated companion may join for booking visit, 20-22 week anomaly scan, early pregnancy assessment scans, labour & birth, on inpatient wards and the emergency room.
• For other routine Outpatient Appointments, one Nominated Support Person (NSP) may accompany to appointments.
• We encourage patients not to bring children where possible (but understand that patients may not have an option due to lack of available childcare).
• Paediatric Outpatients Appointments, is open for both Mum or Dad and support partner/significant other. We would ask that baby/infant siblings do not attend. If your or your baby are unwell please contact the POPD department to discuss with the nurse in charge.

Inpatient Ward Visiting Hours (GPN, Lillie, PSNT A&B & Gynae)

 Monday – Sunday

• Nominated Support Person from 8am – 8pm.

• Patients will be issued with a second visitor card which may be used to allow a second visitor (Grandparents) to attend between 4pm – 8pm.

• Siblings of the newborn may visit between 2pm – 8pm but must be supervised by an adult, other than the mother, at all times. We encourage short visits by siblings where possible.

In line with Food Safety Legislation (IS:340:2007, EU Food Hygeine Regulations), No external food should be brought onsite by visitors. Only low-risk items are permitted, including wrapped confectionery, hot and cold beverages, whole fruit, and wrapped dry snacks (such as crackers, cereal bars, popcorn and rice cakes). We thank you for your cooperation with this policy. 

Visitors can bring non high risk items including:

• Tea / coffee
• Bottled water / soft drinks
• Whole fruit (e.g., apples, bananas, oranges)
• Wrapped confectionary (chocolate bars, sweets)
• Plain biscuits or crackers
• Packaged, shelf-stable snacks (crisps, popcorn, cereal bars)

NICU Visiting Hours

Monday – Sunday

• Visiting is for Parents and Grandparents only.
• Visiting times is from 6.30am – 10.30pm daily.
• One parent must be in attendance during visiting, with only 2 people at the cot side at any time.
• If you have any questions about visiting please speak to the nurse manager on duty or to the nurse looking after your baby.
• Inpatients, may visit at any time. You can discuss this with the nurse looking after your baby as this may need to be tailored to your baby’s individual needs.
• Extended family, other children/siblings cannot visit the NICU.
• Parents may be asked to leave during nursing handover (7.30am—8.45am & 7.30pm-8.30pm daily), doctors rounds (from 9.15am-10.30am ICU, times vary in other areas but the bedside nurse will let you know), or if there is an emergency on the NICU. If you are asked to leave, it may be an opportunity to use the parents’ room for a break and get some refreshments for yourself.
• Parents visiting the NICU will be required to perform hand hygiene as they enter into the unit and often during their visit. You will be advised about this by the NICU staff that are looking after your baby.
• Please do not visit the NICU if you are feeling unwell or have any cold/ flu symptoms.

More Information for Nominated Support Person (NSP)

Emergency Room: NSP may attend for consultation- children not permitted to attend.

Day Assessment Unit: NSP may accompany for consultation. Children (other than newborns) not permitted to accompany.

Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit & Fetal Assessment Unit: NSP may accompany for scan appointments. Children not permitted to attend.

Support During Admission for Labour and Birth

The Rotunda Hospital has some of the oldest healthcare buildings in the world, and is uniquely challenged in providing 21st century healthcare in buildings that were constructed in the mid 1700’s. The Rotunda Hospital is also Ireland’s busiest maternity hospital with large numbers of women coming to us for care.

While our Delivery Suites were individually renovated in 2021 to the highest medical standards, they remain suboptimal in terms of size. The Rotunda Hospital is happy to continue to support and permit one named Nominated Support Person (NSP) to stay with any woman admitted to our Delivery Suites. One named Nominated Support Person (NSP) may accompany as appropriate for caesarean section.

Occasionally, we receive requests from patients who are seeking to have two support people with them for their labour and birth. This issue has been discussed at our Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) meetings as well as at our Executive Management Team (EMT) meetings.

The outcome of these discussions is that the Rotunda Hospital is unable to support requests for second support persons to attend our Delivery Suites. Our Delivery Suite staff look forward to meeting, supporting and caring for you when you are admitted for your baby’s birth.

I am currently pregnant and have tested positive for Covid – 19 what should I do?

• Isolate as per public Health advise.
• If you are greater than 24 weeks gestation please inform you healthcare provider. 
• If you have an appointment in the hospital during your isolation period please do not attend, email us the details and we will reschedule this appointment.
• Treat symptoms with paracetamol as per guidelines.
• If experiencing severe shortness of breath or chest-pain please contact your local GP or general hospital
• If you are concerned about your pregnancy .i.e.
  • Your waters have broken
  • You are experiencing PV bleeding
  • You are concerned about your babies movements
  • Please attend the hospital Emergency & Assessment unit, if possible please ring ahead to enable us to have an isolation room is available on your arrival.