Minister: Stop salesmen who prey on mums

PUShY salesmen should be barred from the hospital bedsides of new mothers, a Government minister has declared.

care minister caroline Dinenage spoke out amid rising concern that nhS bosses are selling too much information and providing too much access to companies keen to market baby products to young families, often within hours of birth.

Mothers are sometimes given free nappies by reps in promotional packs, but have also been badgered to pay £100-plus for photographs with their newborn.

Miss Dinenage said: ‘the hours and days after having a baby should be spent bonding with the new arrival, celebrating with family and friends and acclimatising to the reality of being a parent,’ adding that

‘Intrusive visits to maternity wards’

new parents ‘have a right to rest and recuperation’ in a safe environment.

the minister singled out marketing company Bounty, which is known for offering free gift packs on maternity wards, noting that cases where reps had been ‘intrusive’ and ‘asked inappropriate questions’ were unacceptable.

She warned that action could be taken if maternity units ‘fail to protect the privacy and dignity of the families they care for’.

Mother Amie Peers, 25, who gave birth to daughter Ottilie in tunbridge Wells hospital last year, said she ‘burst into tears’ after a Bounty rep ‘began a sales pitch’ while her baby was in special care struggling to breathe. Bounty said it was ‘very sorry if anyone has had an experience with us that is not up to our high standards’.