2. Policy

2.1 The father or support person is escorted to the operating room via the change room, by a member of the operating team (surgeon, assistant or anaesthetist). Operating suite nursing staff members are not responsible for this task (Note 3).

2.2 He/she is guided to a chair beside the patient's head with his view of the operation site obscured by the anaesthetic screen.

2.3 The baby is shown to both parents and/or parent and support person as soon as delivered and taken by the midwife to the resuscitation trolley.

2.4 After inspection and if no resuscitation is required, the baby is taken to both parents and/or parent and support person as soon as possible for them to inspect and touch.

2.5 When the midwife takes the baby to the nursery from the operating room the father, or support person, goes with him/her.

NOTES : 1. For elective caesarean section, assuming that it is known that the anaesthetist is willing, operating suite staff need only to be notified, via the "remarks" column of the operating list, i.e. "...father or support person to attend..."

2. In non-elective cases, the Nursing Unit Manager in charge for that day in the operating suite should be consulted by telephone concerning the father's or support person's attendance, giving the maximum possible notice.

3. Arrangements for the escort of the father, or support person, to or from the operating room must not depend on the operating suite nursing staff and such arrangement must have been made beforehand by the operating team.

4. In the exceptional circumstances that a spouse is permitted to attend a caesarean section under general anaesthesia, positioning of the spouse is at the discretion of both the anaesthetist and obstetrician. In critical situations the husband may be asked to leave. Generally the spouse should only be admitted to the operating theatre after induction of the mother to witness the birth of the baby and then should accompany the baby back to the nursery.