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!

Commercial data collection and advertising has no place in an NHS hospital. Amongst many other objections, it implies a medical approval of all the crap they are promoting.

surely if you want a photo you can ask your partner or your midwife to take a shitty photo. you don't need to disturb others by bringing in unnecessary people in to the Ward. that's not fair.

it also gives the impression that certain brands are considered better by hcp which is bullshit

I wanted a professional pic done, dp can't take a Pic for shite sadly. Took 5 mins and was as much a disturbance to others as having my bloods done and stitches checked every bastard few hours.

A mw friend of mine is supporting, although she says some women kick up a right stink if they don't get their packs

The bounty rep came into the delivery room moments after I'd given birth and told me to put my legs together. I just couldn't figure out who she was or what she was doing there. She came back later and told me my DS was a right handful because he was crying. A dreadful experience.

It wasn't a professional pic. They aren't professional photographers, except that I suppose they get paid for them so I suppose they are. But they don't make a living out of taking pics anywhere else.

Except that the person checking your bloods and stitches was doing so for a medical reason, in a hospital. What will they think of next?

Horry, as a midwife I know exactly what your friend means.

It's like the clock had been turned back 20 years. imagine - the only way to find out about information like benefits is if somebody physically hands you a form and maybe you have already used up all your camera film so you are grateful if somebody takes another picture.

I have been busily re tweeting (little pink troll). I refused all bounty items with dd2. I didn't know any better with dd1 though I wish I had.

How would a regulator view a firm approaching people in hospital to share with third parties when the patients who have just had major, emotional experiences, are likely to be very tired, may be on a lot of drugs and/or in a lot pain? Would the Financial Conduct Authority (formerly the FSA) or the Financial Ombudsman Service consider it ?treating customers fairly? for HSBC to be at a bedside writing down your personal data to share with third parties and try and get sell you products, just because they gave you a leaflet telling people how to claim the state pension/do a tax return and gave you a free pen and post it notes? No of course they wouldn?t and the firm would get flayed alive both by the regulators and the media, even if every representative followed strict procedures, always told the truth, was kept away from those with the worse outcomes etc etc. So if it is not OK for a bank to do it, why the hell would it be OK for Bounty to do it?

JakeBullet surely it says a lot that those complaining they "missed out" are those who didn't yet realise there's little of use in the pack and didn't have the "pleasure" of meeting the intrusive Bounty rep?

Sadly I think you do have a point Jake. In my last two birthplans (which were a bit controversial so read lots prior to birth) the midwives clocked the 'No visits from Bounty' and they all laughed and said 'But most women love them'.

Doesn't make it ethical or right though.

Why don't Bounty leave application forms in the maternity reception for women who want to get a pack? Face to face sales has no place in a hospital.

But people can still get their packs without them being on the PN ward - they manage fine it for the antenatal packs, and (dont know if its the same in every area) for the other companies (such as emmas diary) packs.

Yes its a load of advertising shite, but so long as it has no links to the Nhs and is not promoted by them over other packs, I have no problems with that. Its the fact that at the moment it is almost seen as part of the nhs that is a problem, the blurring of boundaries that bounty is a private company, especially with the packs handed out by staff in nurse-like uniforms on the PN ward. As has been written above, it implies that the nhs support the companies that are advertising, and even support bounty as a parenting company over emmas diary, netmums or even mumsnet!

What would people think of them if, as I say, they ate there so people can approach them? Compromise tor those who want the pics etc and for those who dont want to be approached?

ok..where's the fb page now!??

I wouldn't mind quite as much if they were in the day room, say, for a short period in the morning so you could make an appointment for them to visit you with their camera later on. But they'd need to be very clear that it was a private company, not part of or even endorsed by the NHS, and they couldn't have a monopoly.
I think it is the "captive audience" bit and the fact that women believe the Bounty Lady is part of hospital staff (eg ours wore a white tunic so looked like a HCP) that is particularly awful. A ward shouldn't be a sales environment anyway.

I'm sure they aren't supposed to be approaching women who've barely delivered the placenta ATM. but they still are.

honestly, it is nice way infringing in someone's rights to not offer a photo service and goody bag

*it is in no way

I have heard read and heard some awful stories about Bounty reps but I have not experienced this. First birth a lady came and asked if I wanred pics, I was delighted to and they took some cute pics, gave me a bag of goodies and I carried on getting more during her first year. Did not feel pressured to buy pics. 2nd baby I refused pics as we then had a digital camera and our own were good enough but took bag and again I do not really have any memory of it so it can't be bad. Third time I had my baby at home so got no bag :( Since this has been in the news most people I know said they did not have a negative experience and have no problem, majority like myself have no real memory of it so I guess the lady was in and out. The bad stories I have only read or heard that happened to someone that someone else knows etc. Maybe my local hospital just have nice Bounty workers ;) But I do agree that the hours after mother gives birth should be undisturbed and nobody should be invading this private space and special time. I think it would be better for Bounty workers to have a desk/space on the ward where they set up each day and interested mums can venture out of their room in their own time and sign up if they want.

I actually think the Bounty packs need to be made available as the antenatal packs are, via Boots etc or even just stored at the local clinic.

I would be happier if the reps perhaps sat in the day room (do these still exist) so that those who want to see the rep can go to see her. Those who cannot get out of bed for whatever reason can then be visited if they wish, a midwife could just ask the mother beforehand.

There is no doubt that some women (okay, a lot of women) DO like the packs and seeing the rep. I personally don't have an issue with Bounty if women want them, I DO have an issue when women have been approached if they have specifically asked not to be.

Hi there

Thanks for all the support for the campaign - it's been a busy old day.

We kicked off with BBC 5live very early, JustineMumsnet took the campaign to ITV lunchtime news, and was joined by a Mumsnetter on BBC London this evening.

You can see all the online coverage here.

Thank you to everyone who has tweeted, linked to the campaign on Facebook and generally made a noise.

We sent this letter to the PM, and have also heard back from the Department of Health.

A Department of Health spokesperson said:

"Women should be able to give birth in a safe, comfortable and relaxing environment.

"It is up to local NHS hospitals to decide locally whether to allow Bounty representatives on to their maternity wards. They also have a say about which mums the representatives are allowed to visit and when.

"We do not hold any central contracts with Bounty or have any influence over the conduct of their sales representatives. But as with all hospital visitors, we would expect them to respect the privacy of all women and their families.?

Do let us know what you think of their statement, and we'll keep you posted of any developments tomorrow.

Thanks again, and as it's now wine o'clock

I wasn't bothered by them but never considered the ethics as I thought they were just samples and never considered the data collection side of things. I do love the photographs , it was a much better camera than I owned. I see the issues now though.

Drat, was just about to buy a new one of ds2 as it's coming close to his birthday and I have been hankering after the other pic