Petition: Save Kings Community Breastfeeding Clinics

[LocalEditorLambeth]

Hi all, in case you haven't heard, I thought you might like to sign this petition to protest against the funding cuts to breastfeeding support services across Lambeth and Southwark:
www.change.org/p/kings-college-nhs-trust-save-kings-community-breastfeeding-clinics

Have these services helped you?

The story was also covered in Londonist on 24th June:
londonist.com/2015/06/breastfeeding-support-cut-in-southwark-and-lambeth.php

These services were a lifeline for me with my first child; so much so that I trained as a BFN peer supporter volunteer to support the invaluable specialist midwives at these groups. I was at a group last week when this devastating news unfolded and every women in the room said she would not be breastfeeding were it not for the Milkspots.

It's wrong of King's maternity services to wash their hands of it and say it is the LA's responsibility. No negotiation was entered into; the Director of Midwifery took the decision last week under the excuse of resourcing and finance difficulties and that was that. The specialist breastfeeding midwives are passionate about their work and have been doing it for years; some haven't delivered a baby in over a decade. To expect them to transfer back to labour ward is totally unrealistic and I think really undermines the amazing work they have been doing in the community.

Please everyone, sign the petition!

And this story was published in the Evening Standard today:

Mothers call for 'breastfeeding cafes' to be saved after King's College Hospital withdraws midwives
www.standard.co.uk/news/health/mothers-call-for-breastfeeding-cafes-to-be-saved-after-kings-college-hospital-withdraws-midwives-10344433.html

Facebook post from King's College Hospital:
www.facebook.com/KingsCollegeHospital/posts/1005888026090053

This is terrible: King's is KNOWN for its standard of community care, high ratio of homebirths and breastfeeding support! ah - is it a service not subject to government targets, I wonder?

There's going to be a peaceful protest outside the hospital next Wednesday at 10am. Will go on for 1-2 hours. I urge people to join if they can to show how important this issue is to our community!

Hello! I have been away on holiday but how did the protest go? Have there been any developments?

Open letter to King's College Hospital re breastfeeding support in Lambeth and Southwark:
medium.com/@CommKch/roland-sinker-acting-chief-executive-ae0253488f4a

Parents share breastfeeding support stories:
medium.com/@CommKch/true-specialists-in-breastfeeding-e4424e6a9bb