P-06-1255 Ensure fathers/birth partners are involved in all assessments & care throughout the perinatal period
P-06-1255 Ensure fathers/birth partners are involved in all assessments & care throughout the perinatal period
This
petition was submitted by Mark Williams, having collected a total of 322 signatures.
Text of Petition:
The Covid-19 pandemic and
resulting regulations have had a devastating impact on many fathers/partners
who were not permitted at scans, assessments or sometimes even the baby’s
birth. Many fathers missed the birth altogether whilst being left outside in
car parks for several hours and even days.
Fathers’ experiences must
be acknowledged and reviewed to inform future decision making and NHS guidance
to ensure fathers/partners are treated fairly and not excluded in the future -
even in a pandemic.
Additional Information:
Whilst the negative impact
on mothers has been highlighted, it is also important to recognise the effect
on fathers/partners. Being excluded in this way has resulted in well-being and
mental health issues, anxiety and concerns about the mother and the baby’s health
whilst being denied such precious and important experiences.
My name is Mark Williams,
and I started the campaign for the Mother and Baby Unit in Wales some years
ago. It’s positive that policies have since changed to be more inclusive of
fathers resulting in better outcomes for the whole family and the development
of the child.
Further detail to support
this petition can be found in our study which suggests the need to consider the
effects of COVID-19 on fathers as well, as they have been rather overlooked by
previous research that has mainly focused on mothers, and to plan specific
interventions able to also take them into account.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34510515/
New fatherhood in a
pandemic: Challenges and resources for new fathers and partners during COVID-19
- https://blogs.surrey.ac.uk/sociology/2020/04/07/new-fatherhood-in-a-pandemic-challenges-and-resources-for-new-fathers-and-partners-during-covid-19/
Status
This petition was
considered completed by the Petitions Committee at its meeting on 21/03/2022.
The Committee considered
the correspondence received and noted that positive action is being taken to
address concerns regarding fathers’ involvement throughout the perinatal period
and that the petitioner has welcomed the opportunity to be involved in shaping
and influencing future work. The Committee therefore agreed to thank the
petitioner for raising this important issue, campaigning to seek change for
others – and closed the petition.
Full details of the
consideration of this petition by the Committee and related documents can be
seen on the Meetings tab above.
It was first considered by the Petitions
Committee on 21/03/2022.
Senedd Constituency and Region
- Ogmore
- South
Wales West
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Business type: Petition
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
Status: For consideration
First published: 06/04/2022