{"id":11315,"date":"2017-02-01T15:12:50","date_gmt":"2017-02-01T15:12:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=11315"},"modified":"2017-02-02T11:32:08","modified_gmt":"2017-02-02T11:32:08","slug":"out-of-the-mouths-of-babes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=11315","title":{"rendered":"Out of the mouths of babes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Croydon NHS is being forced to take the milk out of babies\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 mouths in an attempt to save \u00c2\u014130m this financial year.<\/p>\n

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According to Croydon Council Commission Group it spends \u00c2\u0141395,000 per year on baby milks and specialist infant formula but under the new cuts baby milk will no longer be available.<\/p>\n

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Parents of babies with milk and soya allergies could have to pay up to \u00c2\u0141112 a week for specialist formula if it is no longer available on prescription.<\/p>\n

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Rachel Evans has two children with cow\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s milk protein allergy (CMPA) and her youngest daughter is still reliant on prescription formula.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe prescription tins are half the size of a standard tin of formula and cost up to \u00c2\u014145 online. They only last about two days so we need two and a half to three tins a week,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she said.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just not affordable but the only other option is to see your baby in pain. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not fair and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not right,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said Rachel.
\nRachel couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t breastfeed either of her daughters. Her first was born very premature and was in neonatal intensive care (NICU).<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bBecause she was so tiny we were told she would be better off on formula to help her gain weight quickly,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said Rachel.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bBy the time we realised there was a problem and that she maybe had an intolerance to regular formula it was too late, my chance of breastfeeding was gone,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she added.<\/p>\n

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Rachel chose not to breastfeed her second daughter as she was taking antidepressants following her birth.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u0098Awful\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bBefore we had prescription formula life was awful. She would scream in pain, arching her back and eventually would start to refuse any milk,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said Rachel.<\/p>\n

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An online petition calling on the CCG to reverse its decision had more than 8,600 signatures following outrage from local families.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Obi Amadi, Unite professional health officer said that the issue is not about the specialist formulas not being of comparable price \u00e2\u20ac\u201c but the fact that they are prescribed for medical conditions.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAre we going to refuse to prescribe everything that can be bought over the counter? Free at the point of service? This is potentially the start of something which does not support families,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she said.<\/p>\n

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Dr Tony Brzezicki, Clinical Chair of NHS Croydon CCG said they will do what they can to reduce the impact on the most vulnerable in the community.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt is true that breastfeeding is best and should be encouraged and supported. But it is not right to penalise families with children with medical conditions, especially at a time when there is a strain on family income in the first year of life,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said Obi.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThis doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t appear as though we are investing in our infants and children and it sets a worrying precedent. Where will it end?\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 added Obi.<\/p>\n

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Mr Brzezicki said the prescriptions would cease in the coming months and families would be given notice of the plans before the change took effect.<\/p>\n

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