Campaign to end Bounty sales reps' access to maternity wards - please read and share

[JustineMumsnet]

Evening all,

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to fill in our survey on Bounty and share your stories - from the initial idea onwards, this really is a campaign that has been prompted by your concerns, as posted on Mumsnet.

The survey showed that a very large majority (82%) felt it was unacceptable for Bounty sales reps to be on hospital wards, as well as highlighting a number of other concerns about Bounty reps' selling practices, so we're calling on government to end this kind of direct selling/data collecting on NHS wards. See more here.

It's clear, from the survey results, that, even after Bounty updated its code of conduct (these results only include users who gave birth from May 2012 - the full results containing prior data are here) its practices leave a lot to be desired, and that Mumsnet users feel very strongly that the maternity ward is no place for a hard sell, so we're really hoping that government will listen to us.

Here's how you can help...

Please sign the petition

If you're on Twitter please tweet your support for the campaign with the hashtag #bountymutiny and the following link:

tiny.mn/1bsnpNw

If you're on Facebook then please like campaign page our campaign page (there's a FB link to click at the top on the left).

If you're on Google+, well, you'll know what to do.

We'll, of course, keep you posted here about the campaign and any developments. Thanks to everyone for their stories, honesty and input. Here's hoping we can make a difference!

Hi Rowan - yes, some folks on here are pretty awesome campaigners aren't they - I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of them that's for sure.

Whilst you're there - and on a related campaign - can you give us any update on MN's involvement in the Save the Children campaign against the immoral peddling of baby milk formula in developing countries (or "the majority world") - where of course the frequent lack of clean water and facilities for sterilising make it far more dangerous to babies than it is here ? With almost a million babies and toddlers dying every year (according to Save the Children figures)

Seems wherever there's a vulnerable new mother and baby there's an unscrupulous company and individual willing to take advantage and make a quick buck, regardless of the consequences - in a variety of different ways.

Thanks !

I've emailed my MP, he has a surgery this weekend but I'm away or I would go and see him in person.

Hi all, i've just joined so i'm not sure how to enter a message cringe

I am a former 'bounty lady' and i can totally agree with the bad reviews that this service is getting...

First of all bounty reps are paid in commission....which is why they are so forceful sometimes (which i never agreed with, hence why my income was lower than others). The managers write daily emails to all the regions representatives giving a review on each individuals sales and progress...unfortunately they arent so kind to the reps who get lower sales and we often get a good tongue bashing about it with words like "you should feel ashamed" "terrible day" "maybe you should find a different career"....there is alot of pressure being put on reps. Also I find it unhygenic and very inapropriate to be touching the babies and placing them into positions that are unnatural for photographs...even though most mums wont speak up I see the terror on their face when I try to "display" their child for a good picture...a newborn really should not be handled in this way especially by a complete stranger who isnt even properly trained to interact with babies, and i agree that photography should be banned on wards....if anything they should just have a bounty pack placed on the bed when a new mother is admitted, and they can choose to either take the pack or leave it in the hospital when discharged....they do not need a rep at all, its all money making and taking advantage of the vulnerable.

you do get mothers who praise the service highly and are very grateful for photographs, but we are trained to target ALL mums whether they are willing or not, my manager often telling me "tell them they get a free keyring if they have photographs taken!" which isnt even true as postage and packaging for this "free" gift is £3.99!!!

Thanks for adding your support and experience to the campaign louise

• and welcome to Mumsnet !

Now, that's the sort of first post we like

Thanks louise! Amazing to hear this from an ex Bounty rep. Sadly confirming my fears about how the organisation works. Well done for not conforming to their pressure and moving on.

And actually, having read Suffolk's blog maybe the formula milk companies are more involved in this whole Bounty thing than they at first appear.
Don't think that's far fetched without considering my points ....

They already put promotional packs for so called "follow-on" milk in the newborn Bounty pack (an obvious way of getting round the no advertising to babies under 6 months rule) - I've also noticed recent TV formula adverts doing little to show babies are over 6 months - being held in newborn baby cradled in arms pose by the mother.

Maybe they have an interest in promoting as un-breastfeeding friendly an environment as they can get away with on the post-natal wards ?

If you think I'm getting carried away and a bit crazy ... why are Bounty ladies welcomed onto the wards (with packs talking about every kind of resource for your baby except breast-milk and anything that might support that choice?) - when trained breastfeeding supporters are not able to gain access ?

These companies care not that a million babies and toddlers die worldwide every year due to their immoral practices (due to promoting FF in unsuitable circumstances of grinding poverty and lack of clean water)

They are quite clever and immoral enough to take advantage of the muddle and lack of vision and resources that is post-natal care in the UK in 2013.

Come on maternity care managers - give us some leadership and vision here - and show us some back-bone and the ability to stand up to immoral commercial pressures.

louisestaceysmith - thanks for your input, that's really interesting. Would you mind if those of us who write use your words? I wrote an article for my NCT magazine's last edition and want to write a follow up page as so much is happening in the meantime. Your response would be a perfect addition to show that this isn't just some people complaining about freebies. I don't want to sound like the problem we're complaining about, so tell me no if you want, I won't be offended

I liked my bounty pack, it'd be a shame if they were stopped, it's not often you get a few freebies

No one is asking that the packs stop.

The freebies you get though are not as generous as you might think and they're certainly not free.

I've written to both of our local trusts. Did it from my work address to put some extra pressure on. If they don't respond I will write that I emailed them and they ignored me.

As I have a laptop today I think I will be seeing who else I can message...

I am yet to see anyone who disagrees with this campaign offer a valid reason why a rep should come, in person, to your actual bedside in a hospital. That is the thrust of the campaign. Nobody is trying to stop anyone from signing up to whatever mailing lists they want for whatever freebies they want, outside the setting of the hospital ward. For most people, especially those who are lucky enough to be well with healthy babies, the time they spend in that context is very limited and there are numerous other opportunities to engage with Bounty, and everything else the outside world has to offer.

All I want is to be left alone while I am an inpatient, apart from by those who are specifically employed to look out for my wellbeing and that of my family. I was an inpatient in a gynaecology ward once, where women had some pretty similar limitations to those who are postnatal: stitches, painkillers, anaesthetic side-effects, catheter bags, bleeding, intimate examinations, awkward dripstands and nightwear situations. There would have been absolutely no question of somebody not involved in our care being allowed to approach our bedsides. All I want from this campaign is for the same to be true of postnatal wards. I can't see how that is controversial or likely to cause any problems whatsoever for those people who like the things Bounty offer.

Yes, I quite like the simple idea upthread that a Bounty pack can just be left on the bedside cabinet for women to pick up or leave for next person as they see fit - maybe then there'd be more incentive to actually put something worthwhile in them too, in the hope of engaging the new mother's interest ?
Even then I think that's more concesion to Bounty than we should really be making.
Alternatively they could be given out slightly later through Boots or some other shop (where they'd be more appropriate)!
Interesting that in the early days Bounty operated from a side room in hospital which mothers could choose to visit at their convenience - and in those days (before digital cameras) a more genuine photography service was offered to the mothers too. It isn't justified these days and the marketing practices have become much more aggressive/ pressurised.

Women aren't in hospital long enough any more to use a side room, they're not recovered before they go home enough for them to use a side room. So there's only one answer, leave the hospital!

Yes absolutely courgette - if women aren't well enough to visit Bounty in a designated side room, or positive enough about their photo services and pack to be likely to visit if they were located off the ward , doesn't that tell you/everyone something ?!
I'm thinking visiting bed to bed really isn't the answer or appropriate (did I mention that before !)

I emailed my MP asking for her support for the parliament early day motion. I got this reply.
It's more positive than I expected.
I will update if I get any more info from her.

Dear milktraylady, I am concerned to hear about this. I shall contact the Chief Executive of the Hospital Trust and let you know the result in due course. With best wishes to you and your new baby, Sincerely Angela

Did you realise you put your name there ? I guess you did ?!

Help me with a reply, please.

My MP said she's not willing to criticise a whole group of people, she will only take on the complaints of individuals. she's asked me for actual complaints off the local hospital (which is pin her patch).

I can see too many things I want to say and can't make it into a reply.

if anyone had a baby set a specialist hospital in the WM area, let me know.

I've just emailed my MP about the early day motion. Shall post any response here...

A bit slow on the uptake sometimes, have just read the Early Day Motion.

Ooh, it's good we've got that far isn't it ?

I have emailed my MP asking them to look at the issue and support the EDM.

I'll report back any reply. Hopefully it'll be a lot more positive than courgette's MP

Just read on bbc news that nhs highland has just given bounty 6 months notice.

Sorry if someone has already mentioned.

Just watched it the STV news as I read your post!