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.

Our pharmacies are super busy. I ordered repeat inhalers for me and dd - maybe I could have waited another week, always hard to tell. They was a queue out the door when I went there to pick it up!

Why are doctors issuing prescriptions which allow stockpiling?

Some doctors are issuing 56 days to people who are vulnerable and need to "cocoon".

If you consider it that includes an awful lot of people.

Why are doctors issuing prescriptions which allow stockpiling?

Yeah I wondered that. Aren't most repeat scripts now on a five or six week cycle?

Amazon Fresh has some formula at around 12.99 for 800g

@MissBarbary @titchy

I used to work in a pharmacy. People would collect their meds and then two weeks or so later they would re-order. Surgeries often missed that and the prescriptions would make it through to the pharmacy. We would then notice that we had dispensed this recently and query it with the GP (99% of the time they would ask us to cancel). I am sure we might have missed some as well. It gets very busy in a pharmacy even if the front shop looks empty.
I also have the feeling that due to people self isolating GPs and pharmacies might let repeats that people have re-ordered too early to go through.

I requested a repeat prescription early (about two weeks, get two months supply). I need to go back to my home area because of my medical conditions. It’s about 100 miles away. It hasn’t been processed yet (not sure by GP or pharmacy), should have been ready two days ago.

I shouldn’t have done it, not thinking straight but MH was dropping like a stone. They aren’t optional they are anti epileptic. (To lighten very slightly my auto correct thinks I take anti epilator drugs.)

my prescriptions are still time-limited so i can’t ‘stockpile’.

Why on earth would you call 111?

You can still buy plenty of formula from boots and plenty of other shops

Plenty of baby milk available on Amazon with prime delivery for Monday. Kendamil and SMA are the 2 I looked for and they are both available

Boots have SMA first milk available online now. Might not be the regular brand but it’s first milk and HVs will advise it’s perfectly ok to substitute.

My friend has a 15 week old and called the pharmacy direct, I guess it depends on your area but this was no problem for her. It’s a horrible situation to be in I would hate it, if it was a mistake in panic fair enough but it shouldn’t be advertised to call for that reason!

Midwives will advise accordingly

For fucks sake, just ask your local pharmacy yourselves, useless people No wonder 111 is so busy really, with 'advice' like this doing the rounds and people taking it seriously instead of just..thinking a little.

BatShite who are you swearing at?

I don't think anyone on here has said they have phoned 111 about milk.

There is nothing to suggest , despite the opening post, that anyone has.

I feel so bloody sorry for any parent who can’t find milk for their child. It must be truly terrifying

I don’t ff but my local Sainsburys had loads when I was buying nappies .. can’t see what 111 would do tbh

There is plenty of fresh milk in the shops

Not where I live, there isn't.

If someone is desperate they might feel it is an option to get food for their baby.

I know technically you’re right and they shouldn’t do it because 111 won’t be able to help them, but I do think you need to chill out about it a bit. These parents are struggling to feed their babies and they don’t know where best to turn to get help. Don’t get hysterical at them when they’re desperate and scared. Jeez.

People ring 111 for a little tiny sniffle. Have a pop at them instead.

@BatShite if you found yourself with a hungry baby and no food I'd like to see if you'd still be sitting on your perch calling people names.

@Sunflower1987 fgs the HV are going to be isolating or ill, and those that aren't and can WFH will be very thin on the ground.

You don't need to call a HV (who you can never get hold of in non-crisis times anyway) to use your common sense and give your baby something nourishing even though it might not be ideal.

Back in the war (yes I know, eyeroll) my mother was fed diluted tinned evap milk as her normal diet as a baby, under rationing. I'm not saying this or ordinary full fat fresh milk is nutritionally perfect for babies, but it will do as a short term emergency food until you can find formula. Plus give baby vitamins if you have them. Formula is just dried fortified cows milk anyway.

No babies need starve for lack of formula availability is all I'm saying.

And who calls their HV for advice about everything? Maybe first time mums I suppose. But common sense and a suspension of normal rules is needed right now.

BendyLikeBeckham I appreciate that you Mum May have survived the war years on a less than adequate diet but many infants did not. I think it’s dangerous to encourage people to feed their infants anything other than breast milk or 1st stage infant formula.

the war was on for 6 years. We are talking about 3 to 6 weeks in isolation here and parents panicking that their babies will starve if they cannot buy formula. I'm saying, don't panic, there are other options in the very short term that mean your baby won't starve or suffer any long term illness effects from.

These are extraordinary times and we need to adapt our thinking somewhat.