Your pregnancy and birth journey are both a special and unique time for you and all of your family. We encourage support partners to be part of your birth journey at all times.
ELHT maternity services fully support your personalised and individualised care plan which extends to the care of your support partner and family members if required, particularly if additional needs are not met.
As a general guide please see below our recommended visiting times for the individual ward or department, this includes guidance for extended family members and friends.
Antenatal Ward, Induction Suite and Triage
One support partner may accompany a pregnant woman or person on the Antenatal Ward, Induction Suite and Triage.
A strong recommendation is that the health and well-being of your chosen birthing partner and visitors is considered. Any support partner or visitor who is experiencing any symptoms of feeling unwell (for example, a temperature, cough, cold, any flu like symptoms, diarrhoea or vomiting within the past 48hrs or any unstable medical conditions) should not attend the department. Please make arrangements for an alternative support partner if possible.
There are no time restrictions, support partners can be present 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Extended family and friends are able to visit during the hours of 2pm-4pm and 5.30pm-7.30pm.
During these visiting times, two adult visitors are welcome in addition to the support partner and the pregnant woman or persons' own children. Visitors may differ from the afternoon to evening session if the personalised individual care plan for some pregnant women or people supports this. Support partners will need to return home overnight due to limited facilities on the ward and to support their own well-being.
Blackburn Birth Centre
Two birth partners may accompany a pregnant woman or person in labour.
A strong recommendation is that the health and well-being of your chosen birthing partner and visitors is considered. Any support partner or visitor who is experiencing any symptoms of feeling unwell (for example, a temperature, cough, cold, any flu like symptoms, diarrhoea or vomiting within the past 48hrs or any unstable medical conditions) should not attend the department. Please make arrangements for an alternative support partner if possible.
We ask that children are not brought to the Birth Centre during labour.
On arrival, birth partners are encouraged to ensure they have everything they need with them. This is to minimise the number of times they leave the room and the building during their partner's time in the Birth Centre.
There is open access to the Birth Centre during a 24-hour period to the support partners of mothers with a newborn.
Siblings (brothers and sisters) of the newborn baby, extended family and friends are welcome between 10am and 7.30pm.
Extended family and friends can visit during the hours of 2pm-4pm and 5.30pm-7.30pm. During these times, two adult visitors are welcome in addition to the partner and siblings. Visitors may differ from the afternoon to evening session.
Burnley Birth Centre
Two birth partners may accompany a pregnant woman or person in labour.
A strong recommendation is that the health and well-being of your chosen birthing partner and visitors is considered. Any support partner or visitor who is experiencing any symptoms of feeling unwell (for example, a temperature, cough, cold, any flu like symptoms, diarrhoea or vomiting within the past 48hrs or any unstable medical conditions) should not attend the department. Please make arrangements for an alternative support partner if possible.
We ask that children are not brought to the Birth Centre during labour.
On arrival, birth partners are encouraged to ensure they have everything they need with them. This is to minimise the number of times they leave the room and the building during their partner's time in the Birth Centre.
There is open access to the Birth Centre during a 24-hour period to the partner of all mothers with a newborn.
Siblings (brothers and sisters) of the newborn baby are welcome between 10am and 7.30pm.
Extended family and friends can visit during the hours of 2pm-4pm and 5.30pm-7.30pm. During these times, two adult visitors are welcome in addition to the partner and siblings. Visitors may differ from the afternoon to evening session.
Central Birth Suite
Two birth partners may accompany a person in labour.
A strong recommendation is that the health and well-being of your chosen birthing partner and visitors is considered. Any support partner or visitor who is experiencing any symptoms of feeling unwell (for example, a temperature, cough, cold, any flu like symptoms, diarrhoea or vomiting within the past 48hrs or any unstable medical conditions) should not attend the department. Please make arrangements for an alternative support partner if possible.
We ask that children are not brought to the Central Birth Suite during labour.
On arrival, birth partners are encouraged to ensure they have everything they need with them. This is to minimise the number of times they leave the room and the building during their partner's time in hospital.
Only one birth partner will be allowed to accompany a woman in labour who has planned or emergency surgical assistance during labour (such as a C-section or ventouse), in line with theatre guidance.
Please be aware that due to limited space within the birth rooms the secondary birth partner may be asked to leave the room during labour should an emergency arise.
Postnatal Ward
The partners of mothers with a newborn baby can visit the ward at any time during the 24-hour period.
Siblings (brothers and sisters) of the newborn baby are welcome between 10am and 7.30pm.
Extended family and friends can visit during the hours of 2pm-4pm and 5.30pm-7.30pm.
During these times, two adult visitors are welcome in addition to the partner and siblings. Visitors may differ from the afternoon to evening session if the personalised individual care plan for some post-natal women or people supports this. Support partners are encouraged to return home overnight due to limited facilities on the ward and to support their own well-being.
A strong recommendation is that the health and well-being of your chosen birthing partner and visitors is considered. Any support partner or visitor who is experiencing any symptoms of feeling unwell (for example, a temperature, cough, cold, any flu like symptoms, diarrhoea or vomiting within the past 48hrs or any unstable medical conditions) should not attend the department. Please make arrangements for an alternative support partner if possible.