EXPECTANT mums are now allowed to have their partners with them if they go into early labour in Oxford.

The update applies to all maternity-led units in Oxfordshire including the John Radcliffe and The Spires maternity wards.

This means that if women arrive suspecting labour, their partner is now invited to attend any assessment and stay until the birth.

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Previously, partners were only allowed to enter the hospital for the birth.

For any other assessment at maternity units, however, partners are still not allowed in to reduce the number of people on the ward.

Oxford University Hospitals Trust which runs the John Radcliffe and other major hospitals in the county put a blanket ban on almost all visitors on March 23 over coronavirus fears.

In recent months it has gradually lifted the ban to varying degrees in different departments.