Scots fathers ‘sidelined’ finds survey

Health services are failing new mothers by sidelining fathers, according to a survey out today.

The poll by Fathers Network Scotland and the Fatherhood Institute shows that over half of fathers in Scotland felt ignored during and after the birth of their children.

The Scottish charity says this “outdated attitude” needs to change in line with NHS policy that came into place in 2004 requiring maternity services to deliver ‘family centred’ care.

Nearly half of fathers said that hospitals didn’t give them enough time to spend with family after the birth of their baby. Some reported feeling sidelined or “patronised” and just 10 per cent reported that their hospital had facilities for fathers to stay overnight afterwards, with some reports of fathers sleeping in car parks overnight. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown called eight years ago for hospitals to provide family-friend- ly facilities. The “Who’s the bloke in the room?” report by the Fatherhood Institute and funded by the Nuffield Foundation recommends specific new measures to welcome fathers throughout pregnancy, birth and early infancy.

Samantha Pringle, director of Fathers Network Scotland, said: “Our survey sadly shows that fathers remain an underused resource – at a time when a stretched NHS would most benefit from the support they bring to their families. Let’s change this outdated attitude.”