King’s Mill Hospital to offer Covid-19 tests to pregnant women and their support partner before scans

The lateral flow tests, which are not mandatory, are being offered to support partners who are attending the scan appointments too.

In order to allow time for the tests to be carried out, women and their support partner are being asked to come to hospital 50 minutes before their scan appointment.

If women test positive maternity staff will arrange for them to have a further test to confirm that they are positive.

This test involves another swab, this time from the nose and throat. This will be performed before they leave the hospital and they will be informed of the results as soon as they are available, usually within 24 to 48 hours.

Divisional general manager for womens and childrens at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, Lisa Gowan, said: “We hope that this will reassure women and help to keep the hospital safe for other women, their families and our colleagues.

"The tests are not mandatory and people will still be allowed to attend their appointment if they do not wish to have a Covid-19 test prior to attending. If the women attending for their appointment or their support partner tests positive they will be given all the support and guidance that they need.”

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