DO NOT CALL 111 for baby formula

[MinkowskisButterfly]

I am posting this in the hope it STOPS one person from ringing 111 for baby formula. I saw this posted on fb this morning. Just another example of stupid.

I truly despair.

🙈🙈🙈

Oh wow, like they are not busy enough!

I know, I have seen so much stupidity lately but today I seem to be drowning in it.

Fucks sake

Tbh not being able to find formula is a medical emergency. If your 3 month old is ff it's not like you can give him fishfinger and chips is it? And highly unlikely you can just whip a boob out and feed them.

We should save our outrage for the selfish cunts that cleared the shelves for the highly unlikely chance they couldn't make a brew. No doubt they will try the first one them advertise it on Facebook marketplace for £9 or something cos they don't like it and don't fucking need it.

Spoke to my ndn this morning. She is going out for the 3rd time to try and find formula for her 5 month old baby. Luckily she has a car but not everyone does.

Yet another good reason I don't do Facebook, instagram etc . It's all populated by morons 🙄

So this is why when I tried to call earlier it rang for 90 mins and then hung up.

@Frouby Put a shout out on social media, ask your pharmacist directly (skip ringing 111 as a middle man), contact the formula manufacturer, if your child is 3 months old you will have a health visitor contact them.

BUT DON'T RING 111 FORMULA!!!!

for fucks sake 🙈

Fgs 🙈i despair i really do. I know baby milk is hard to come by but shouldn't these people try every avenue possible other than 111 blimey

Tbh not being able to find formula is a medical emergency.
111 is not a personal shopping service!

it silly to fall for that. but if feel really sorry for people who are worried they might not be able to feed their baby.

Obviously ringing 111 is a waste of resources but if you have a tiny baby and you can't find the only food they can consume you might do some crazy things in desperation. These people will not be thinking straight. It would be good if there was some reassurance to new parents and signposting on where to turn if desperate in this situation.

@AlphaIndigo allow me to draw you to my follow up post:

*Put a shout out on social media, ask your pharmacist directly (skip ringing 111 as a middle man), contact the formula manufacturer, if your child is 3 months old you will have a health visitor contact them.

BUT DON'T RING 111 FOR FORMULA!!!!*

A friend has been advised by her HV to call 111 as she will run out of formula tomorrow and cannot find any locally or online. She has been told if 111 are unable to source formula her 12 week old baby will need to be hospitalised to receive nutrition.

That's great... If they're also reading this thread?!
I'm not ringing 111 for formula and I didn't suggest people should. I just think that it's a very difficult time right now and I can understand how people are getting lost in the madness.

Why isn't baby milk being rationed, babies should be protected

What do you suggest you do then? If you genuinely can’t get any formula? Let your baby starve to death??? I can only presume you aren’t a present

@Wannabangbang I said this to DH the other day, we need old style rationing for all essentials to protect the vulnerable.

The people who post these things dont seem to have a clue the impact it will have on 111 services nor the parents. Do they think 111 has a dedicated team with nothing else to do but phone every pharmacy in the country and place orders? How on earth would they know if a caller was genuine? Are people really that stupid?
If they took 10 seconds to check if it was actually true or not before posting this crap....giving people straws to clutch at and clogging up phone lines helps nobody and could do harm to some.

Many smaller shops will put something aside for you when thier next delivery comes in if you ask them. Its worth a try.

Well most pharmacies are overwhelmed with prescriptions at the minute so unless you get a medically required formula can I suggest you ring a local shop or the supplier.

well what could 111 realistically do? what is the thought process here?

@SimonJT well that health visitor is truly shocking. At worst case scenario you can feed your baby whatever formula you can get your hands on. I've been out twice this last few days to source formula for people who have posted on social media. I also had to ask for my own a baby's last week. But everybody managed to find them.

I actually feel incredibly sorry for mums who are being faced with the prospect of not being able to feed their baby. They must be petrified and be willing to do anything if they thought it was the answer.

Maybe a bit of compassion in these times wouldn’t go amiss.

Tbh not being able to find formula is a medical emergency.

It's not for 111 to deal with.

A friend has been advised by her HV to call 111 as she will run out of formula tomorrow and cannot find any locally or online. She has been told if 111 are unable to source formula her 12 week old baby will need to be hospitalised to receive nutrition.

Your friend or their HV are talking bollocks.

The hospital may have milk but will not give a bed to baby, so they can just receive their 4 hourly feeds

Not a parent but I can understand why people feel desperate enough. It's all down to the CFs who stockpile the stuff. As someone else said it's not like you can feed the baby something else.