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Are breastfeeding mothers on the children's ward entitled to...

Posted By Just asking

"Are breastfeeding mothers on the children's ward entitled to a meal?"

About: Royal Alexandra Hospital / Paediatrics

(as a parent/guardian),

I'm asking the question here only because I can't find an answer anywhere else.

I'm currently staying in children's ward with my newborn daughter providing all care and breastfeeding. This is the second stay I've had with a newborn at this hospital my son was admitted at 5days for 3 weeks of treatment.

I found out after my sons stay that hospital policy is that breastfeeding mothers staying on ward are entitled to hospital meals even though I was never offered. Now that I'm back in again I've asked is this policy true and nobody knows! Why is this information so hard to find out?

It's very frustrating I can't leave I can barely walk and midwifes have had to visit me in the children's ward. I did ask and was told we will find out but nobody bothered to get back to me. In an ideal world all parents would have meal access so they didn't have to leave the children but specifically I'm asking only about mums who breastfeed.

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Responses

Response from Pamela McGoldrick, Senior Organisational Development Advisor, Women & Children's Services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 7 years ago
Pamela McGoldrick
Senior Organisational Development Advisor, Women & Children's Services,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 18/04/2017 at 14:18
Published on Care Opinion at 15:09

picture of Pamela McGoldrick

Dear Just asking

Apologies for the delay in posting a response.

I am sorry to hear that your baby daughter recently required an in patient hospital stay. As you describe, this must have been a very worrying time compounded by the challenges of providing care for your baby outwith your home environment whilst recovering from child birth. I hope you are both doing better now.

In relation to your query about provision of meals to breastfeeding mothers I have been advised that whilst this used to be the case a number of years ago in Ward 15, it is not hospital policy and catering no longer provide this. Your feedback has been raised with the senior management team and the Chief Nurse has asked that this issue be raised with the Catering Service via the formal Nutritional Group. Your feedback will be very valuable in highlighting the challenges for breastfeeding mothers in an in patient environment.

Best wishes

Pam

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Just asking (a parent/guardian)

Thats good it's being dealt with. I stayed on ward 15 nearly 4 weeks with my oldest son when he was a newborn and access to food was difficult I remember losing so much weight. Clarification for myself and staff is all I wanted so breastfeeding mothers in future know what they are and aren't entitled to.

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