‘Very difficult situation’: Hamilton hospitals allow some visitors with COVID-19

Hamilton hospitals are allowing limited visitors with COVID for the dying, trauma patients and those giving birth.

Childbirth is a life-altering event similar to extenuating circumstances, such as trauma or palliative care, where we have continued to allow essential caregivers at the bedside," Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) said in a statement.

Ontario nurses call it a very difficult situation" because the patient clearly needs the infected person to be there, but there is also concern about risk to staff.

For women to be in labour and delivery without their partner is just very traumatic," said Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario.

However, she pointed out it can also be traumatic for staff if the birth partner is infected.

It needs to be in agreement with the nurse who is working," said Grinspun. They're putting themselves at extra risk."

St. Joseph's Healthcare says the birth partner must be asymptomatic and can stay for labour and birth only - HHS didn't make this distinction.

We have learned in previous COVID-19 surges there is harm to patients and their families when an individual is isolated from loved ones at the beginning and end of life," St. Joseph's said in a statement.

St. Joseph's said the practice is in keeping with many of our regional hospitals."

However, Grinspun said there is wide variation across Ontario with no clear direction from the province.

Some hospitals don't accept partners who are unvaccinated, let alone COVID-positive," she said. So you have a whole range it appears of what hospitals are doing."

She added that it's increasingly difficult to keep out infected essential caregivers when some hospitals are calling back staff with COVID to work among worsening shortages.

We don't think it's a good idea to bring back staff who are COVID-positive - even if asymptomatic - for the reason that you still transmit the virus," said Grinspun.

Hamilton's hospital leaders said they don't have infected staff working despite having 888 workers self-isolating as of Friday. However, they have contingency plans in place in case it's needed.

We certainly are looking and assessing under which conditions might we have to consider something so extreme to happen," HHS chief operating officer Sharon Pierson said Tuesday.

Both HHS and St. Joseph's said they take extra precautions when a birth partner is infected. St. Joseph's said couples are immediately placed in COVID isolation protocols.

The rules mitigate safety risks, while responding to the growing body of research and literature exploring the harm and mental health consequences of pregnancy, delivery and postpartum during the pandemic," stated St. Joseph's.

HHS said all essential caregivers are required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times, restrict movement out of the patient's room and distance.

I can imagine when the partner is COVID-positive how difficult that must be for everybody involved and the risk that brings," said Grinspun, adding staff should be given extra PPE.

There are no easy answers, as Grinspun points out that, if someone is toward the end of life, you absolutely need to have someone there."

When it comes to birth, it's an event that happens once ... with that child that is born."

As a result, decisions around infected essential caregivers have to be carefully weighed.

It cannot be taken lightly," said Grinspun.

Joanna Frketich is a health reporter at The Spectator. jfrketich@thespec.com