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!

ohh I have had further conversation with my exec. I suggested an opt in policy whereby new mothers could inform a midwife that they would like a visit from the Bounty rep having first been informed what role said person actually has. This would ensure that any patient meeting a rep did so with their eyes open and at their own request.

She said she thought the suggestion was 'very reasonable' and she would be checking the practicalities and legalities regarding their contract....

I don't see a problem with ads visible at prenatal appointments. The whole problem with Bounty reps is that they gather information when you are in hospital in a vulnerable position after giving birth.

An ad at a prenatal appointment is passive - you are just seeing it. You are not approached, questioned, asked information and pressured to buy anything. Most people at prenatal appointments are not anywhere near the state of vulnerability that they are in hospital immediately after birth.

I think there's a huge difference between the two things.

ICBINEG

cierzo, we've asked for reps not to be on wards, in most hospitals photography and bags are done by the same person. How is that anything like adverts on boards in the antenatal clinic???

The problem with opting in on a ward is there are other patients. I think they need a space in the hospital, if they must be there, that people can visit.

Well, hospitals should be hospitals, they should not allow advertisement for anything that is business related IMO. Frankly there is a lot of mambo jambo involved with pregnancy and birth. I am the sort of person that prefer the actual scientific facts.

an interesting aibu thread that seems to have been missed

Bounty appear to be asking new mums on their books for feedback...

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability I LOVE your response!

I hope lots of people follow your example! It strike me that Bounty are pooping their pants from that.

In other Bounty related news... I have had a response!!!

Hats off to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust for doing that at least and I do feel its positive given that they were one of my 5 original targets. They don't have a Bounty Photographic service (turns out it was removed in April 2012 after a survey of patients!) but they still use the packs.

I've forwarded it on to MNHQ and I hope they put the full thing up on their campaign page.

It is good news :) They are taking it to their ethics committee.

I can not ask for anything more than that at this stage, and I am a very happy bunny at that for a result.

Suffolk!

@SuffolkNWhat

Latest article in Independant: watchdog to be set up in response to survey

Article here

Good morning,

Yes, as Suffolk has very efficiently already shared (thank you, Suffolk!), do take a look at the Independent on Sunday's front cover story, by Jane Merrick.

As you'll see, Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter has told the IoS that:

'hospitals must "get a grip" in keeping reps away from mothers who have just given birth. He said that the Care Quality Commission would be able to take action against maternity wards and birthing units that did not "ensure the protection of women's privacy and dignity", including stopping private firms from approaching new mothers to ask them to sign up for a parenting club, buy professional photographs with their baby or hand over personal data which is then sold on to third-party companies.'

Thanks

MNHQ

very good stuff! I think I will reforward it on to my local exec as it matches closely with the way forward we were discussing!

There's no question that some units do not currently

"ensure the protection of women's privacy and dignity"

which should go without saying.

I'd welcome action from the Care quality commission it would be a great start.

Every hospital should already have an independent Maternity Services Liaison Committee, working to bring together parents and professionals to ensure that maternity services reflect the concerns and needs of the local population.

Can I suggest that people also contact their local MSLCs and ask them to get involved in the Bounty campaign - they should include commissioners, directors etc. as well as medical staff and so coul dbe a good way of flagging your concerns.

This is great - well done to all of you!

I emailed Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust over 2 weeks ago about this, including an account of my own experience after giving birth at the RVI.

No reply yet.

Great news!

Wow, thats a little bit of a U Turn from Dr Poulter...last thing I saw him say something, his turn of phrase was much more favourable to Bounty. I'm guessing a little bit of pressure from MPs has made him have to look at this a bit closer.

The fact that the CQC are allowed to act now is brilliant. Its great they officially have teeth on this (though I actually said in Dec this was well within their remit because of hospitals duty of care to protect patients rights and privacy but well done Dr Poulter on picking up on the fact).

Brilliant, brilliant news!

So HMRC say that it is cheaper to pay Bounty than to post them individually. How about having the forms handed out by the Registrar when parents register the birth, surely that would be cheaper?

Yes, because posting application forms individually is something they do for every other benefit. Or registration at school or GP, etc.

FFS.

If people having babies can't cope with going online or to the post office, to apply for this highly publicised and very widely claimed benefit, then there are countless other opportunities on the "new baby" treadmill for pressing CB forms into their helpless little hands.

or with the red book.

Bounty's response in the Indie story is so patronising. 'Mums' apparently welcome Bounty packs and 99% of 'Mums' think Bounty is fab - I think not!

I'm a city councillor in Coventry and I chair the city's health and social care scrutiny board. I'm delighted to support the campaign to remove sales reps from hospital wards.

Through a freedom of information request I have managed to ascertain that the value put on each new mum's privacy is just £4.66. I plan to keep up the pressure on this issue and would be delighted to hear from mums and dads in Coventry about their experiences. Please see Coventry City Council for my email address (hopefully that will confuse the spambots).

I'm also attaching links to two pieces from local papers in Coventry ...
Coventry Observer

Coventry Telegraph
... and will also be on the local BBC station this afternoon to discuss my findings.

Mumsnetters are doing a brilliant job in forcing NHS trusts to give answers on this issue, and in making the Government listen to them. I'm happy to do my bit too.