BMJ: Vaginal examinations, consent and COVID-19 (May 2020)

Summary

As with all aspects of the NHS, a number of changes have been enacted in the operation of maternity services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many of these changes are important and justifiable in order to protect the safety of pregnant people, maternity staff and newborns, it is vital that any (incidental) adverse implications to these policies be addressed.

This blog, published by the BMJ, examines one such change; the policy which has been implemented by many NHS Trusts which provides that pregnant persons will only be admitted to the labour ward once labour has been “confirmed as established”.