National Health Service (NHS) England has updated guidance that allows pregnant women to have a support person at all contacts, as well as parents on neonatal units to have access to their babies.
For sonographers, the guidance has several points to follow, including those listed below:
- Make way for an adult support person to be in attendance during all examinations, based on regular updated risk assessment.
- Mitigate risk of COVID-19 transmission within the ultrasound and antenatal department, based on risk assessment.
- Clearly communicate with parents, especially in relation to a support person who has COVID-19 symptoms.
- Evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before allowing access to units as rapid lateral flow tests are no longer freely available.
- Everyone inside ultrasound departments should wear a face covering or mask to protect staff and patients.
