FATHERS should be allowed to visit their small and sick babies being cared for at neonatal care units, an MS has said.

Darren Millar, MS for Clwyd West, said restrictions on visits to neonatal care units are preventing parents, mostly fathers, from sharing care responsibilities for their new-born children.

Welsh Government restrictions state that one parent guardian, or carer can be at the bedside at a time.

Mr Millar spoke in Welsh Parliament after concerns were raised by Bliss, the charity for babies that are born premature or sick, over the current restricted visiting arrangements at such facilities.

“The Minister will be well aware of the fact that there's been a significant impact on visiting arrangements to neonatal care facilities across the country as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the charity for babies that are born premature and sick, Bliss, has raised concerns about fathers being excluded from visiting and prevented from sharing care responsibilities for their newborns," he said.

“We need an urgent statement on what action the Welsh Government might now be able to take through issuing more updated national guidance, given that the vaccination programme has been so successful and we've seen a significant fall in the number of COVID cases."

Speaking afterwards, Mr Millar added: “Those early days with your newborn are precious and fathers should not be missing out, particularly when their child is sick and the covid situation has improved so dramatically.”

Research shows that parents being involved in their baby’s care on the neonatal unit can have long term benefits for babies, as well as the whole family.

During lockdown, Bliss has called for neonatal units give parents the maximum opportunity to be with their baby and to be heavily involved in their baby’s care.

In a position statement, Bliss said: "n response to the growing intensity of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals across the UK severely limited who was able to come onto hospital sites to reduce the spread of infections. These policies were introduced to protect vulnerable patients, and the dedicated staff who care for them, from contracting the virus.

"While many units had started to amend their policies to ensure both parents could be present and be involved in their baby’s care, and some units have even been able to return to full unrestricted access for parents, these restrictions continued to affect parents’ access to their babies, and their ability to deliver their baby’s care.

"Ensuring the safety of vulnerable babies on neonatal units during the COVID-19 outbreak is paramount. But parents are not visitors, and they need to continue to be partners in delivering their baby’s care and decision making."