Breastfeeding support group Breastfeeding Buddies shuts down in Glasgow and Lothian amid funding cuts

A breastfeeding support group has closed after it was unable to secure funding amid “detrimental” cuts.

Breastfeeding Buddies, run by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) charity, operated in five hospitals in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian, offering peer support to mothers who want to breastfeed.

The Scottish Government previously funded the group but announced that health boards would decide how to meet local needs this year.

Breastfeeding Buddies Glasgow held its final group on June 4 after funding was cut.

A spokesperson for the group said: “After 11 wonderful years of supporting families, our funding has sadly not been renewed, and despite our best efforts to secure alternatives, we’ve been unable to continue.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed it will no longer fund the scheme, but remains “committed” to ensuring women get the breastfeeding support they need.

However Joanna Corfield, head of communications and campaigns at NCT, said the funding cuts would have a “detrimental” effect on local parents’ communities.

She said a high proportion of parents, especially women and birthing parents, are not getting the support and information they need.

“Every parent needs unbiased, non-judgmental, timely support with feeding their babies, especially in the early days and weeks,” Ms Corfield said.

She added that the lack of support can impact people’s feeding journeys, decisions, and mental health.

“NCT provides infant feeding services for parents that the overstretched healthcare system cannot provide,” she said.

NCT said it has supported more than 7,000 families in Lothian and ensured that parents “felt informed and supported throughout”.

“Breastfeeding and infant feeding support should be seen as a priority, and funding cuts to these services are detrimental to local parenting communities who have seen the life-changing impact they deliver,” Ms Corfield concluded.

A spokesperson for NHSGGC said: “Peer support plays a vital role in a woman’s breastfeeding journey, and we understand the concerns the NCT provision being discontinued may bring.

“While we have had to make necessary adjustments to our service provision, there will be no change to our support for families in our communities.”

The health board added: “NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde remains committed to supporting breastfeeding women and will continue to meet their needs and work with them for feedback on how we can better services even further.”

Ashley Goodfellow, acting director of Public Health and Health Policy, NHS Lothian, said: “Breastfeeding support will continue as part of NHS Lothian’s programme of work to improve maternal and infant nutrition.

They added: “We are aware of recent changes to the funding model from Scottish Government and are committed to working alongside partners to ensure that women across Lothian get the support that they need.”

“NHS Lothian is fully accredited as UNICEF Baby Friendly across neonatal, maternity, health visiting and family nurse services and provides a wealth of evidence-based support to mothers across Lothian.

“This includes targeted early intervention projects in specific areas, antenatal breastfeeding sessions, drop-in community groups and a commitment to increasing the number of premises registered as breastfeeding friendly.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We have provided £11m of additional investment to NHS Boards and third sector organisations in the past seven years for breastfeeding support.

“Rates are now the highest on record, with 49% of mothers breastfeeding between six and eight weeks after birth. This is thanks to the excellent work of local infant feeding teams and the support and advice they have provided to new mothers,” they said.

“A small number of areas in Scotland have previously seen additional support provided by third sector organisations like the National Childbirth Trust, through direct Scottish Government funding.”

They added: “However, this year a decision has been taken to only provide funding directly to NHS Boards. This will allow them to decide how best to meet local needs, sustainably, over the long term. We will continue to work closely with NHS boards and partners to monitor the impacts of this change.”