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!

Yes, I was fuming about that too. I made sure I made my point on the fb page last night. Most were positive naive comments.
I feel so strongly about this. Even the first time after they just kept coming back to push the photos. The second time when she came in when baby was in the NICU was really distressing. I can't understand the 'for' argument. Are you really that insensitive?

Oh, what a surprisingly leading question to go to the ad-break not

I think this is a great campaign, maternity wards are a place for you to recover from birth, not get the hard sell. I think MN is being very careful to state that it's just the wards they should not be allowed on, not stopping the rest of their activities in places and times when new parents are less vulnerable. Like others have said, you don't get salespeople on other wards, so why the exception here?

Would like to see a DWP statement on child benefit forms. Surely there can be some on each maternity ward or given out when you register your baby's birth. Also, I'd expect them to be pushing online registration more now, especially as it's no longer a universal benefit.

Was a very short feature and apparently had an awful lot of callers. I actually think it went pretty well. I was hoping for at least one story like mine with a baby in NICU, but the panel mostly seemed to agree with the campaign.

ocean NO! they sold the benefit claim form lie?

Are you fucking with me?!?!?!!?

I had one hospital birth, 11 years ago, and the Bounty rep made no impact on me whatsoever. I think my community midwife brought me the packs for the next 3 (HBs).

I am wondering whether there has been a change to the Bounty culture within the organisation over the last decade - giving it much more of a hard sell. There were no photos or prints done with DS1. Just dropped the bag, said hello and that was that. Very unobtrusive. The most useful thing is having the CB form given to me. I don't know when I'd have made it to the local DSS office to pick one up. It would be helpful if community midwives dropped them off. Its the only thing necessary and helpful from all this. (I don't know if you can apply online for CB which would make that irrelevant too).

No-they made it quite clear the CB forms claim by bounty was false. And a caller bought it up.

Phew!

I was vey surprised that all three of the panel seemed to agree! Of course MW was a twat about it, but hey, whats new there...

Actually I havent mentioned yet, my bounty rep was fine, but I was made to feel rather scabby by the other mums shock that I didnt want my pfbs photos taken :(
And I saw both my bounty reps within four hours of giving birth, unlike both of the people MW talked to...

Emma's Diary is different though, it's a website that you choose to sign up for. It isn't mentioned by MW at any stage and I only heard it existed on here. Bounty is pushed on you as you are given a pack on your first appointment with all the MW contact details already on it.

Different here (south wales), bounty folder and pack1 and emmas diary voucher were given at 12w scan. Emmas diary postnatal voucher (and ctc info) was given with birth cert at registry office

I've also never gotten the bounty 'overnight essentials' ha labour pack until the PN ward.

Free is never really free. If you want to have it apply for it before birth. If you don't want it because you know most of the pushed products tend not always be that great or you don't like the commercialism then don't apply and don't get it (and don't allow them into NHS hospitals).

Vouchers are fine - you can put them in the bin if you want. It is coming into a hospital at all that I object to.

I never had a problem with my bounty rep to be honest. She came to see me after my lo was born and asked if I wanted a photo or to give details. I happily gave details but didn't want a photo the bounty rep was fine with this and I did not feel pressured to give details / have photos at all. I was never told that I had to give details for child benefit. To be honest my midwife was such a grumpy cow person the happy smiling bounty rep was a breath of fresh air. I know when I was on the ward quite a few mms were excited for the bounty rep coming as they wanted a photo so I don't think it's right to completely stop bounty reps. However it would make more sense /save time for the bounty reps to hold a daily talk in the post natal day room. That way everyone can choose whether they want to attend or not an no moher has a decision enforced on them by others. It should be all about choice and informed consent IMO. I also think that the money raised by this service should go directly into the maternity fund too in order to improve services rather than into a generic hospital fun where the money will disappear never to be seen again. I know that some people have had bad experiences and there are some rogue reps out there as there are in any profession - even midwives who try an pressure you more so in those first few fragile hours. But I do think the service should remain albeit a bit more restricted for those who want it

I didn't get an overnight essentials pack.

Do I need one of those?

I'd let the bounty reps take photos of me in labour for the pack they get in Finland lol