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Mum Denied Meals While Baby Fought for Life
29 Oct
Summary
- A mother was denied hospital meals during her baby's critical illness.
- The hospital cited not breastfeeding as the reason for meal denial.
- The family spent over £1,000 on food during the three-week hospital stay.
A new mother, Sophie Price, experienced distress when she was denied meals at Grange University Hospital while her baby, Florence, was critically ill. Five days after giving birth, hospital staff informed Sophie that she would not receive food because she was not breastfeeding, despite her daughter's serious condition.
Florence was diagnosed with bronchiolitis, rhinoviruses, and a blood infection, requiring breathing support. Sophie endured the stressful situation while in pain and suffering from edema, relying on family for food, which cost over £1,000. She described the policy as outdated and discriminatory against formula-feeding mothers.
The Aneurin Bevan health board apologized for Sophie's experience and stated their commitment to supporting families. They clarified that while children are patients in pediatric wards, meals are typically provided to breastfeeding mothers to support infant nutrition. For formula-fed babies, the hospital stated formula is provided as needed, though Sophie was initially told to supply it herself.
The health board also mentioned available support for parents, including basic food items, a ward voucher scheme for discounted meals, and discussions with ward teams for financial hardship. They emphasized that requests are handled on a case-by-case basis to ensure fair assistance.
