A 22-year-old mother from Newport said she was refused meals while her daughter Florence received treatment at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran following complications from bronchiolitis, rhinoviruses, and a blood infection. Sophie Price stated that hospital staff told her she was no longer classified as a patient once she moved from maternity to the pediatric ward, and therefore was not entitled to hospital meals because she was not breastfeeding.
Price had given birth at the hospital five days before Florence’s critical illness required readmission. She described being in significant physical distress during the three-week stay, including postpartum pain, dislocated hips that required realignment, and severe swelling in her feet. She reported going approximately 28 hours without food while maintaining vigil over her daughter, who was placed on respiratory support due to lung complications.
According to the health board’s explanation, mothers are provided meals during maternity care when both mother and child are classified as patients. On pediatric wards, only the child receives patient classification; however, breastfeeding mothers are provided meals because this directly supports infant nutrition. For formula-fed infants, the hospital stated formula is supplied as needed, though Price indicated she was initially told to provide formula herself. The family reported spending more than £1,000 on food from external sources during their hospital stay.
The health board responded to the complaint by expressing sympathy and clarifying that ward teams can provide basic food items and refreshments to parents unable to access the canteen or leave their child’s bedside. The hospital also noted that discounted meal vouchers are available and financial hardship support can be discussed on a case-by-case basis. Price criticized the policy as outdated and discriminatory toward formula-feeding mothers, calling for all hospitals to provide meals regardless of feeding method.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI