Birmingham Milk Bank has had its budget cut so it won't be able to collect anywhere near as much milk

[TheProvincialLady]

The Trust has taken away the use of a car to collect milk and has also cut the office hours so that they are just 9-5pm, Mon - Fri and no bank holidays. This means that not only will mums who don't drive or can't get to the centre to drop off the milk won't be able to donate at all, but people whose partners/friends drop off milk for them will also be affected because they will only be able to do it when most people are at work.

I have just found out because I was offering to donate myself but can't unless I can find someone to take the milk there for me.

I am going to write to the Chairman and the Chief Executive (Judith MacKay and Julie Burgess)

Birmingham Women's Health Care NHS Trust
Metchley Park Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TG

I thought some of you might be interested in doing the same. No matter what your views on breast feeding, surely we can all agree that breast milk is medicine for sick and premature babies and it should be available to anyone who needs it.

I know hospitals use volunteer drivers for patient transport, (when folk are going home) if this hospital does that could you ask the organisers if they could help out?

Our local hospital doesn't offer a collection service in fact you have to park (and therefore pay!) to drop it off although you just go and put it in the freezer yourself.

Actually that is a good idea OldLady.

NICE are developing guidelines on the operation of Breast Milk Banks. I feel sure this would be relevant to contact them and let them know about, explaining the potential impact on donors (including possible disproportionate effect on e.g. disabled, unwaged etc).

See here

Shall do Grendle, thanks for the tip.