TD: 'Incomprehensible' that maternity hospital restrictions have not been lifted

Access for birthing partners during the critical 10-week anomaly scan and for postnatal visits have been significantly curtailed across the majority of maternity services since the beginning of the year

'This is a shared experience and very often there's great joy but there can also be great tragedy in this as well — that shared experience is incredibly important,' said Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy.  Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The refusal to lift a ban preventing partners of expectant mothers from attending scans and early labour has been described as "incomprehensible".

The easing of maternity hospital restrictions is not included in the latest measures announced by the Government, and the HSE has confirmed that the current rules will remain in place beyond April 5.