MNHQ here: Bounty Mutiny (get Bounty and commercial reps off wards) - UPDATE

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

Thought some of you would be pleased to hear that as the petition to ban commercial reps started by Lauren Harris has passed 10k signatures, the government had to provide a response.

In it, they praise Ipswich hospital for introducing:

'a system where mothers are only approached by a commercial representative if they indicate that this is something that they would like. Mothers can show their preference by placing a card on their bedside table. This is a good example of how Trusts can put processes in place to give new mothers clear control over their interaction with commercial representatives.'

They go on to say:

'The Government is considering how to clarify guidance, so that that the interaction between commercial representatives and new mothers on NHS wards is consistently more positive across the UK.'

So, a small step but hopefully a good one. For the GDPR mavens among you there's also some commentary on that issue in the response on the petition page (please let us know what you think!)

Please do sign the petition if you feel strongly about this - every signature demonstrates the strength of feeling on the issue, and if the petition reaches 100k it will be debated in Parliament.

If you've already signed, you could:

1. write to the hospital where you had your baby (or the hospital where you will be having your baby, or would have your baby at if you had a hospital birth). Bring the response to their attention (they may not be aware of the petition), and point out that the Government has clearly indicated hospitals should have this sort of opt IN system and that other mothers should be left alone.

2. Tweet/share a Facebook post to East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (@ESNEFT on Twitter) to commend Ipswich hospital on its policy, and tag in your local hospital trust asking them to do the same.

3. Tweet/share a Facebook post with the Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) asking them to prioritise new guidance for trusts on this issue.

If you have any ideas for other useful actions to take please add them here!

Thanks
MNHQ

The thing which gets me is that back in 1991 as a student midwife I was absolutely shouted down by people including other midwives when I pointed out women should not be open targets for these reps.

Various things like "we like our packs" and "you are over thinking all this".

Good to finally see I was right. I was right then and right now.

I never sought to separate women from their Bounty packs of they wanted them but I always thought that approaching women just after they had given birth and we're vulnerable was wrong.

All power to this.

When I had my son I was told by the bounty rep that his photo had to be taken for “identity purposes” I was at the time trying to breast feed my baby.

The other concern is are these “salespeople” even DBS checked. How do the hospital know it’s safe to let these people onto wards with vulnerable women and newborn babies. I’m not saying any of them would steal a baby but surely security has to be a consideration?

Ashhead2 There were bounty Reps in Plymouth in 1995, I remember them vividly, and a friend tells me they er there last year when two of her daughters gave birth.

I gave birth in Plymouth in Feb and they were there, but my twins were in NICU and she just tried to leave a pack. I said firmly that I wasn't interested and she looked surprised but went okay.

However I did peakBounty one of the obstetricians as she had no idea about them and asked why I had written "no Bounty" on my birth plan.... well, I told her and watched her eyebrows practically reach the ceiling

To cut a long story short, even though I was prepared for the bounty rep and tried to stand my ground I was eventually bullied into making a purchase: two 7x5 photos (had to be two of the same) for £18. I was too tired and just wanted to get rid of them and I was alone as DP had gone to get lunch. Ok so it's less than £20 and not a great loss but...£9 a photo and the quality was crappy. I could've taken a better one myself and got two printed for less than a quid! Oh and they charged me £3.99 to post them out too 😭

@Fightthebear I have finally heard back from Bounty following my data access request (well over a month, in breach of GDPR). They had -

My name
My DOB
My son's name
My son's DOB
Our address
My mobile number

Their privacy policy says they will store the information until the child turns 5. My son is nearly 7 so they have kept our data much longer than 5 years.

They also confirmed that I unsubscribed from receiving information from them in Dec 2012 - 6 whole years ago, yet they have still retained all of my personal info knowing I didn't want to hear from them.

They say they don't sell information on, but they also say that they only store info for 5 years, so I don't necessarily believe them on the "not selling" claim. I have now asked them to confirm why they have retained our information after their policy period and also how our data has been processed since Dec 2012 when I asked them not to contact me any more.