There should no longer be restrictions on who can visit new mothers in hospital, campaign group Better Maternity Care has said. 

During the pandemic, partners were banned from appointments in order to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in clinical settings - and to this day, visitors are restricted to one 'designated support partner'. 

One father, Stefan, says he felt disappointed that his oldest son was not allowed to meet his younger sibling in the hospital. 

“We’ve a 10-year-old boy as well,” he said. 

“My wife had a private room, he was never allowed into the private room - it was our own room. 

“It was kind of the back end of the hospital, so we weren’t really bumping into anyone and he could have worn a mask there and held the baby in the room.” 

A nurse holds a iPad to a mother with symptoms of covid-19 to her can talks with her relatives after giving birth to a baby in a specialized area to treat mothers with probable coronavirus infection at the Monica Pretelini Maternal Perinatal Hospital. Toluca, Mexico, June 22, 2020. Photo by Mariana Bae/Eyepix/ABACAPRESS.COM

A similar view was expressed by an expectant mother outside the Coombe Hospital. 

“Your whole family should be allowed back in,” she said. 

“It was nice when you’ve given birth and you have everyone to support you as well.” 

Last week, the Government announced it will no longer be compulsory to wear a mask in hospitals from April 19th. 

Better Maternity hope this means the ban on visitors could be re-assessed in due course.