The key facts

  • Sophie Price was refused food at the Grange hospital because she was formula-feeding her daughter rather than breastfeeding
  • The family spent more than £1,000 on food during three weeks in hospital
  • The health board apologised and described the support mechanisms available to parents
  • The health board apologised and described the existing support mechanisms for parents

Refusal of meals on the paediatric ward

22-year-old Sophie Price from Newport, a first-time mother, told BBC Walesthat staff at the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran (Torfaen, Wales) refused to give her a hot meal while her daughter Florence was in a critical condition on the paediatric ward. According to her, five days after giving birth in the same hospital she was told she was no longer considered a patient because she was not breastfeeding, and therefore was not entitled to free meals.

Three weeks at her daughter's bedside

Florence was hospitalised after she developed severe wheezing and stopped breathing; her mother carried her into the emergency department shouting 'she's not breathing' and thanked the medics for their quick response. Diagnoses included bronchiolitis, a rhinovirus infection and sepsis, which left the girl's lungs unable to work on their own — she was hooked up to a machine that pumped air through a mask. Her parents were told the child could be placed into a coma at any moment.

'I just needed a hot meal'

The refusal of food came when Sophie had not eaten for about 28 hours. She explained to staff that after the first day she had been unable to establish breastfeeding and her daughter was receiving formula — after which she was denied a meal. At the same time, she said, she was suffering from pain: her hip was put back after dislocating during childbirth, and her legs were so swollen from oedema that she found it hard to walk. She herself called what happened 'a terrible experience': 'I just needed a hot meal to keep going for my daughter.'

How the rules work and what the hospital said

According to BBC Wales, in the maternity service mother and baby are both considered patients and receive meals regardless of feeding method, while on paediatric wards the patient is only the child; meals are provided to breastfeeding mothers because this directly supports the infant's nutrition. Sophie also says she was told to bring formula for her daughter herself, and only after her mother contacted the hospital was formula provided again. Over three weeks, she says, the family spent more than £1,000 on the canteen and food delivery. Sophie considers the rule 'outdated' and discriminatory towards mothers who formula-feed, and is calling on hospitals to feed all mothers regardless of feeding method.

The health board's response

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board apologised for what she experienced and said it 'strives to support families throughout a child's stay'. It explained that for parents who cannot leave their child's bedside or reach the canteen, the ward can provide basic food and drinks, a subsidised meal voucher scheme operates, and in cases of financial hardship support is arranged individually with the medical team. Separately, the outlet notes that the same hospital this week rejected claims circulating online that it was 'dangerous' and 'terrible'.

Sophie holding her newborn daughter Florence. Tubes can be seen attached to Florence's face. Her left arm is bandaged. Sophie has brown hair which is tied back. She wears a beige t-shirt. Her eyes are closed and she is not looking at the camera.Image source, Sophie Price
Image caption,

“I just needed a hot meal to keep going for my daughter,” Sophie said

Florence is a newborn baby girl who is seen lying in a hospital baby crib. Her left arm is bandaged and a CPAP machine is placed over her mouth and nose. Her eyes are closed and her right hand is raised.Image source, Sophie Price
Image caption,

Sophie said she and her husband were told Florence may “need to be induced into a coma at any point” during her treatment

Inside the paediatric ward at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran. Sophie Price is a young woman who is seen lying on her side on top of a sofa bed. Her daughter Florence is inside a hospital baby crib. A breathing tube can be seen over her nose. She is wrapped in a white blanket.Image source, Sophie Price
Image caption,

The first-time parents spent three weeks in hospital with their daughter Florence

Sophie and Ryli Price are sitting in a restaurant with their baby daughter Florence. Ryli has a black and white horizontal striped shirt on and has short light brown hair with a goatee. Sophie is to his left and has long, dark wavy hair and a nose piercing. Florence is on her dad's lap and is wearing a light pink jumper with frilly cuffs and a matching bow on her head.Image source, Sophie Price
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Sophie and Ryli said they spent about £1,000 as they had to buy all their meals from the hospital canteen or takeaways while Florence was in hospital

A selfie of Sophie and her daughter Florence. Sophie has brown hair and is holding Florence in her arms. Florence is a newborn baby and is covered by a white blanket. Sophie is looking at the camera and not smiling. Florence has her eyes closed.Image source, Sophie Price
Image caption,

Sophie had not eaten for about 28 hours when she said she was denied a hot meal by hospital staff

Sophie Price (left) is a young woman who has brown eyes and brown hair. She is looking at the camera and smiling. She is holding her daughter Florence (right) who is a baby. She wears a pink headband which has a large pink bow on it. She is looking down away from the camera.Image source, Sophie Price
Image caption,

Sophie is calling for hospitals to provide meals for all mums who are formula feeding their baby

A mum and daughter at a wedding. The little girl with blonde hair is smiling. She's in a pink dress with a grey cardigan and holding a bunch of flowers. Her mum has a silver clip in her hair.Samantha sits next to her son Oscar. Samantha wears a bright pink vest top and has long dark hair, while Oscar wears a grey T-shirt. Both are facing the camera. Sunlight filters through the leaves overhead, creating patches of light and shadow across the scene. Behind them is a dry, grassy field with green trees and shrubs in the distance under a blue summer sky.A drawing of a woman caught in a shop shutter