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!

Well done to Mumsnet for taking this on. I gave birth to my first child four months ago. About 30 mins after I emerged from the operating theatre, the Bounty rep appeared with her large camera and asked to take a picture of my baby (who was also recovering from a difficult delivery). She did not introduce herself or explain her purpose. I had no wish to see anyone at this intensely private time as I came round from all my meds and bonded with my son. I declined her offer.

To be fair, the rep was very polite and not overly pushy. Nonetheless, she continued to "work" the ward, hoovering up personal details from unquestioning new mothers. I found the whole incident deeply intrusive at a very vulnerable time and kept my curtains shut for the remainder of my time on hospital in case she (or any other pedlars) came back! In short, I thought it was totally inappropriate.

'when my local hospital is currently not letting in the breastfeeding helpers, who could actually be very useful'

Why not?

Not sure, I'm sure I remember being told it was something to do with having too many people on the ward when it's busy, so very relevant to the bounty people being there!!

We're on the case to get back in (I'm newly qualified so yet to go in at all), but it's taking some time

Ive been a mum for almost 3 years now and this is the first time ive registered with mumsnet, I feel so strongly about this campaign! I didnt know who Bounty were until a few months AFTER Id left hospital. I never gave them my information because I was busy with my newborn daughter but my husband did because he thought they were midwives. They were dressed like midwives, never told us who they were and you assume they are nurses because of the security on baby wards. You dont expect strangers, let alone sales reps to be walking around a baby ward!! I only found out because I was getting inundated with junk mail about baby stuff and I was like how on earth do they know ive given birth? I thought the NHS was passing on my personal information. I finally contacted a baby photographer who was spamming me to say how he'd got my details, he said it was from some newmum database which came from a company called Bounty, then it all clicked into place because of the Bounty bag they give you (which is rubbish). I was livid!! as I never give out my personal details. The poor photographer was shocked too because he'd assumed the data he had was legitimate. I complained to Bounty and they just sent an arsy message saying my details have been removed, no apology.

The Bounty rep who visited me when I had DS1 was lovely, not at all pushy and extremely kind. I didn't see one when I had DS2 because he was born on Christmas Eve and we went home on Christmas Day.

You're so right with your "half a story" for anything on the Wright stuff Blackpool - but I'll tune in tomorrow to see if they cover it. They'll probably find several people to sing the praises of the crap Bounty pack, and say they had a cute picture taken of their DC
Even if that were the case - though I defy anyone to sing the praises of the Bounty bag - one nappy and the smallest ever pot of nappy cream !

• It's not the point anyway !!

The point being even if it was OKish for you it wasn't for others, they have no right to be there, and they are not putting your well-being first. Surely the mother's well-being and interests should be put first in the first few hours and days after giving birth ? - and nothing should compromise that, let alone for such trivial purposes.

I had a really bad experience with my last child and a Bounty rep (my child was born nearly 4 years ago). I was extremely tired and tearful, my DH and the midwife were there with me, to be honest I was so out of it I cannot remember even being able to talk.

She marched in and started asking for detail, DH say it was a bad time, she refused to budge, said "it only takes a few minutes", so he politely told her no thanks and her response was something along the lines of "it's useful information for your baby, you know", in a really aggressive manner and then added something like "but if you are not interested in your baby then just say and I will go". It was terrible.

I didn't complain because by the time we left hospital etc I had forgotten about it, but I thought it was outrageous behaviour. So well done mumsnet, totally support the campaign.

This IS a good campaign but be prepared for the fact that you might be in a minority. As a midwife I always felt the it was n ethical to be allowing Bounty access to new mothers in this way BUT I can tell you that there were many women who wanted and welcomed their "Bounty Pack", to the pont that they felt they had "missed out" if they had not got one. I did several trips to the Mat unit for packs as a Community midwife because women asked for and wanted them.
I suppose what I am saying is that 82% of MNers is not representative of the childbearing population at large.
What I WOULD welcome is much more information for mothers about what Bounty do (information gathering) and what this means in terms of junk mail etc.
I'd also like to see women get far more for their information than a mini pot of Sudocrem (crap anyway IMHO) and one nappy plus a trial size of sensitive washing powder/conditioner. Hold out for better freebies is my advice!

...oh and the Bounty reps I met (although have to admit only half a dozen or so) have all been lovely, and that includes the one I met after DS was born.

Don't forget this campaign will also do them out of a job. Just saying.

I think this is a good campaign but suspect it won't be a popular one. Much better to campaign for better and more freebies in exchange for that info we are giving them

the wright stuffs facebook page
Maybe to balance the argument a little...?

I have an issue with non healthcare trained strangers having free access to ward areas and potentially confidential medical information.
They have no right to be pulling curtains back or barging into rooms when mums might be getting examined or are exposed.

Are these people even clued up on infection control or are they going bed to bed touching and handling babies without washing their hands?

I also have an issue with mothers being duped into giving their details over to be sold on for profit and the subsequent spam they receive in exchange for a kickback to a hospital.

petition signed

I am thinking that the women who were asking for bounty packs thought they were getting more than a free disposable nappy and some junk mail.

I had a terrible birth, stricly no visitors and yet the fucking bounty rep was allowed into my room.

Its appalling. I told her leave, had a been less drugged up she would have got a mouth full.

No visitors on someones notes means exactly that!

Quite right merrymouse which is why we should be campaigning for much more .

I do think many women want these packs though, however appalling they are. It's that "something for nothing" thing. Funnily enough we debated this as a student midwifery forum twenty years ago. The number of midwives who felt that Bounty SHOULD be allowed in as "I loved having my Bounty pack when my baby was born" was amazing.

I agree with this campaign but am just pointing out that an awful lot of people will not. So perhaps we campaign for better goodies in exchange for our info instead.

^^ i agree even my own mother was told not to visit. Yet the bounty wimen came in...

Maybe you need a horredous birth or a sick child to appreciate the horror of such a visit.

A hospital should be a safe place never are you more vulnerable than post birth.

The bounty rep should be duty bound to explain that they wish to sell your details on. As for the negotiating for better freebies omg no.

82% of Mumsnetters who took part in the survey don't agree with the Bounty Reps, not 82% of MNetters.

I was told Bounty were paid to distribute the Child Benefit forms by my midwife...

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/29/nhs-criticised-sales-access-postnatal-wards

"The article says that HM Revenue and Customs pays £90,000 a year to Bounty to distribute the forms ? even though they are available online."

Bounty: Simply very bad practice and no doubt a breach of care and rights given the condition many of us find ourselves in shortly after a birth.

A very good campaign!

HMRC would be better off having the forms given out when babies are registered

noo if you were talking about people being rude to cold callers on the phone I would agree with you. they are just doing a job.

but when you go in ti someone's private room while they're tired and bleeding with their breasts out and you have no reason to be there.

any response you get is not rude and you should expect it. there really are other more ethical jobs

I had a lovely experience with Bounty both times. In fact I was so annoyed that a Bounty rep wasn't on my ward the day after DS2 was born and I wanted the pics done I went and stole one from another ward . I very simply ticked the box saying i didn't want their marketing bumf after the initial pack (with all the brill freebies in it) and I haven't heard a peep from them.

I dont deny that some of the reps must be pushy, but I do think the campaign would be better focussed on their practices than banning them altogether, or perhaps campaigning for them to be 'benign' reps ie. people know they are there and can approach them. Banning them altogether just means the ones who want the pics lose out which doesnt seem fair.

its been a few yrs I know but tbh the reps at our hospital just came round & handed out a goody bag of freebies.
Thought it was a good idea, 6 months later I went to a shop (maybe boots or mothercare)? & collected a follow on freeby bag!

The freeby sudocream lasted for ages!