FOI request: written agreements relating to formula feeding before discharge
A mother shared with me that 8 months ago she gave birth at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital & on discharge was forced to sign an agreement to say she would formula feed her baby as breastfeeding was not established - even though she wished to breastfeed.
Since then another mother in the GMAG group has shared a similar experience.
Therefore we are asking the hospital to confirm.
Dear FOI Team,
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
This request relates to any written agreements, forms, declarations, feeding plans or signed documents used by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust where parents are asked to confirm, agree or sign that they will formula feed, mixed feed, or give formula top-ups to their baby before discharge from maternity or neonatal care.
Please provide the following information for the period 1 January 2024 to the present:
Does the Trust use any written agreement, form, declaration, feeding plan or signed document where parents are asked to confirm or agree that they will formula feed, mixed feed, or give formula top-ups to their baby before discharge?
If yes, please provide a blank copy of each document/template currently or previously used during this period, and briefly explain the circumstances in which it is used.
How many signed agreements/forms/documents of this type are currently recorded or stored on Trust systems or in patient records for the period 1 January 2024 to the present?
Please provide the information electronically.
If the Trust does not use any such written agreements or signed documents, please confirm this clearly.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Gleave
Gloucestershire Maternity Action Group