Hi Everyone, I posted a draft of this letter earlier today and got some very good responses, here's my final version. I was basically asked to move to a more 'suitable' location whilst breastfeeding in a waiting area at Whipps Cross hospital in London. Here's my complaint letter:
The Manager
The Fracture and Orthopaedic Clinic
Whipps Cross Hospital
Whipps Cross Road
Leytonstone
London
E11 1NR
Friday, 25th May 2007
Dear Manager,
I attended the Fracture and Orthopeadic Clinic on the 25th May at 9.05 with my two children, NAME (19 months old) and NAME(4 weeks old).
Whilst waiting in the main waiting area, close to the reception of the Orthopaedic Clinic, my youngest son was hungry so I breastfed him. A member of your team approached me whilst I was feeding him and asked me politely to move to another area (to the main hall, or the garden) so that I could 'you know, do this discreetly and be more comfortable'.
I moved to the garden, as suggested, feeling rather embarrassed and angry. Embarrassed for being asked to move in front of a waiting room full of patients (what kind of message is this sending, that breastfeeding in public should not take place? That it is something we should hide?) and angry because I didn't have the presence of mind to reply (why on earth would a hospital staff not respect a woman's right to breastfeed in public? And why did she interrupt us in the middle of a feed ? couldn't it wait until we were done?).
Let me ask you this: Would I have been asked to move if I had been giving my son a bottle?
I didn't reply to the employee but in retrospect I should have said to her that I have every right to breastfeed at any location. I would like to know if any patients in the waiting room had complained, or if it was members of the staff who were uncomfortable with me breastfeeding. Doesn't the NHS spend thousands of pounds on encouraging women to breastfeed?
I would like you to remind your team members, indeed all staff, that every women has the right to feed her child at any place she wants to ? whether she is bottle feeding or breast feeding her baby - without being interrupted or asked to move. I breastfed my first son in a variety of public places ? libraries, shops, cafes, pubs, buses and trains, airports and airplanes, motorway service stations, and I have NEVER before been interrupted and asked to move to another location for the purpose of discretion.
Please do take this letter seriously, as some mums would have been very offended by the actions of your staff member, and indeed might have lost the confidence to breastfeed in public.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, on
Kind regards
CC.The Complaints Manager
Head of Midwifery
(and other important people...)