HSE does not know what maternity restrictions are in place at individual hospitals

The different restrictions in place at maternity hospitals have seen fathers and partners miss out on milestone moments, such as scans and births. Picture: iStock/PA.

Hospitals are within their rights to continue to lock loved ones out of maternity appointments, despite the head of the HSE writing to healthcare facilities asking for restrictions to be lifted.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has defended the "barbaric" Covid-19 maternity restrictions and said hospitals do not have to lift the restrictions amid growing confusion and anger at the ad-hoc arrangements which have seen families split apart for milestone moments.