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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

just had a run in with the maternity ward bounty photographer

804 replies

StateofConfusion · 21/12/2012 13:17

And having previously defended them and loved my pictures of my eldest children todays 'rep' has made me agree they need to be removed from wards!

She arrived originally before breakfast turned on the lights and opened curtains waking me and the other Mum up, then continued to talk over the peadiatrician who was checking my dd over.

Eventually she sulked off but apparently came back when I was asleep (how dare I?) Last time she came back as I'd just settled dd and was eating lunch which had just arrived.

I said No photos at the minute thanks she got most insistant that its for security reasons?? (I'm going home today) and said she'd just lean round and take them, dd was asleep on my lap in a v pillow whilst I ate. I said again, not right now I'm eating she left brochures and went off muttering quite loudly.

I'm hormonal so ofc this has upset me, but not as much as the first time mum across they way! WHY are these people allowed to just walk around a maternity ward being so fucking rude!

OP posts:
Sevillemarmalade · 21/12/2012 19:57

Unbelievable stories, had home births so no idea this was happening in hospitals. Will be signing petition

SleepyLittleSunshineGirl · 21/12/2012 19:58

IamMummy PMSL!

CommanderShepard · 21/12/2012 20:08

I got Bountied and told 'well you can't get CB without signing up'.

I waved the forms DH had printed from the internet and her face was a picture.

OohMrDarcy · 21/12/2012 20:22

found bounty on twitter.... have tweeted them! (@BountyUK)

Rhubarb78 · 21/12/2012 20:22

I got a bounty pack when pg with my first son, he was stillborn at 24 weeks and the contents sat in my drawer for ages upsetting me terribly till i got the strength to throw them out. when i had my second son i was in hospital for 5 days following as he has jaundice and every day, twice a day i was pestered by these people, i kept saying 'no thank you' and getting looked at as if i had 2 heads because i didnt want one then i finally lost it on day 5 when one woman came in and pressed and pressed as to why i didnt want one 'everyone gets one, its part of having a new baby' i had to tell her that i didnt want one because my last baby was stillborn and the packs remind me of that, she just looked shocked and wandered off while i was left sobbing for an hour. i am still very resentful that she pushed me so hard i felt i had to say what i did to get her to go away when its not something i am comfortable telling anyone and everyone and how dare she come up and upset me like that. I am now pg again and i will be telling the first bounty person i see to make a note that i do not want to be pestered and if they do i will be making a formal complaint, i despise bounty

Smeggnog · 21/12/2012 20:26

The bounty woman tried the whole CB spiel with me a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately for her I'd had a very good birth and was able to wave her away with a cheerful "No thanks off you fuck". Completely different to first birth, when I had no strength to tell them to leave me alone.

Bloody parasites Angry

Rhubarb78 · 21/12/2012 20:28

oh and i got the CB form shite too, told her i didnt care about that but when we registered the birth the registrar gave us one, have since found out you can download it on line too

TeamBacon · 21/12/2012 20:28

It's bounty club on FB btw

FellowshipOfFestiveFellows · 21/12/2012 20:29

The Bounty Birch I had was a right weirdo. She was very batty. I was Shock at the time. I'm more Angry now.
I have no issue with these people being a part of hospitals, as the NHS needs all the money it can get. BUT that said, it would be simple as a bit of training, how to treat people with respect. Not to disturb anyone who is going through what I did. And simply to have an "opt in" box on your maternity notes.
If they are happy to pressure sale, and lie about child benefit, they should be sacked. And I'm horrified at the idea someone can get a Bounty badge and enter a ward with children on it, let alone being allowed to walk off with the baby.

girliefriend · 21/12/2012 20:33

I am Shock at some of these stories un-bloody-believable!!!

I work for the nhs and they are borderline paranoid about confidentiality so how they get away with this I have no idea

Saccrofolium · 21/12/2012 20:53

A good friend of mind had her baby at The Portland. Bounty are even in there, but they quietly open the door and shove the pack across the floor and scurry away. You don't even see their faces. I'll bet that's on instruction.

OhDearNigel · 21/12/2012 20:56

I've emailed the NCT people on facebook asking if they would share our thread on their page

OhDearNigel · 21/12/2012 20:59

and tweeted them

MousyMouse · 21/12/2012 21:03

hy do they need to go bed to bed?
can't they set up a stall outside in the broom cupboard ?

OhDearNigel · 21/12/2012 21:04

MNHQ - can we get this on the MN Towers FB page ? I'm feeling quite "crusadey" this evening lol

OhDearNigel · 21/12/2012 21:05

Mousey - that's exactly what I think. I've got no issues with the bounty packs but to use what is essentially pressure selling to people at their most vulnerable is disgusted and, to use one of my Dad's catchphrases, "shouldn't be allowed"

TeamBacon · 21/12/2012 21:07

I'm sure you can just post it on the MNFB site?

FryOneFatChristmasTurkey · 21/12/2012 21:07

I would guess many, if not all, Bounty reps are on a pay by numbers signed up sort of contract. Would explain why they push so much and won't leave people alone. And all the CB spiel too.

Despite what's on the Bounty website, I would bet they don't care how they get names, as long as they do, as each name is more money for them by sellling it on.

OhDearNigel · 21/12/2012 21:10

yes, i wondered if it was similar to BSAH where you have to do so many parties per month or you are kicked out. They probably have to gather x number of names/photos

Skang · 21/12/2012 21:13

I didn't have anything like this with mine and I'm shocked at these stories :(

There's not anything worth having in the packs anyway.

monkey9237 · 21/12/2012 21:23

Disgusting accounts on here, Bounty should be utterly ashamed.

Does anyone have a link to the epetition please? I've searched on the no10 epetition site under Dept of Health and by a 'Bounty' word search and it's not coming up. Thank you.

janek · 21/12/2012 21:25

It can take up to seven days, then someone will post a link, i believe...

SilentMammoth · 21/12/2012 21:29

A link would be great, id sign it.

Some awful stories here, mine (exhausted after long induced premature labour and repeatedly woken up) just pales in comparison.

MrsReiver · 21/12/2012 21:33

I had a pushy Bounty Bitch when I had DS but we're at a different hospital this time round, and I've just checked and there isn't a Bounty Bitch there. I take it I just won't be able to claim child benefit then Xmas Wink

State, I'm so sorry you got accosted, are you going to be in for much longer?

Gooseysgirl · 21/12/2012 21:35

Am horrified by the stories on this thread. I will happily sign the petition. I wonder have Watchdog ever covered this story? The Bounty lady at my hospital was v nice, I declined the photo as DH is a photographer (true!) and there was no problem and no harassment. That said, I completely disagree with them being on the PN wards, disgraceful way for hospitals to make money.

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