Dear Sir,We read with interest Kasaven et al., (1) who eloquently describe some of the implications to the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. They correctly identify the heightened anxiety that patient’s face when attending hospital during pregnancy. During this time the reduction in patient attendance can be multifactorial. However, we feel one area which has been neglected is partner support. There is evidence that having a partner present during a birth can reduce a woman’s anxiety and additionally be beneficial to the partner (2). Father’s also can experience significant anxiety in the peri-natal period (2) and maternal stress particularly with relationship strain can be harmful to the baby. Parental presence during CPR for a child is beneficial for parents as they can make sense of the situation. It logically would also be beneficial to partners with maternal emergency caesarean sections and of course postnatally to bond with the baby (3). Current policy dictates that fathers can only be present during the birth, however in a multiparous woman or a woman requiring a crash caesarean section the timeframe allowing for partner’s attendance is not reasonable or feasible. COVID-19 is clearly the reason for this policy, however, examining the risk of a couple, who have both been screened as negative on a COVID-19 test and live in the same household. If the male member of the couple has COVID-19 the female is likely to have a high viral load from the partner due to kissing or sexual intercourse (4), a common practice in an attempt to induce labour. The early knowledge of infection can allow for appropriate infection control measures to be put in place. The rate of a false negative is 4-30% (4) but this is still a risk with the mother. The risk to staff with correct personal protective equipment and training is minimal (4). Additionally, women who do not have continuous support are more likely to have an instrumental/surgical delivery, use more pain medication, prolonged labours which may result in complications such as postpartem haemorrhage (5), which ultimately places hospitals and clinicians at greater risk of litigation. With risk of domestic violence and risk of increased mental health issues as highlighted by Kasaven et al., are we doing more harm than good and is this an unintended consequence of COVID-19 that could be prevented? The implication to patient care is huge for what appears to be little benefit. Have we forgotten that we should be delivering patient centred care? Perhaps it is time for change.Herron JBT (1), Herron RL (2)1. University of Sunderland, Faculty of health science and wellbeing, Chester Road, Sunderland SR1 3SD.2. Northumbria University, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, 2 Sandyford Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QH.