A first-time mother was denied a hot meal by an NHS hospital despite being at the bedside of her newborn baby who was fighting for her life because she was not breastfeeding.

Sophie Price, 22, was stunned when staff refused to give her a meal while her daughter Florence, who she had given birth to at the same hospital just five days previously, was being treated on a paediatric ward at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, Torfaen.

Ms Price, from Newport, was told that she was no longer classed as a patient at the hospital as she was not breastfeeding, so would not be provided with any meals.

She and her family instead shelled out more than £1,000 on food from the hospital canteen and takeaways as they remained at Florence's bedside throughout her three-week hospital stay. 

'It was just an awful experience. I just needed a hot meal to keep going for my daughter,' she told the BBC. She has now launched a campaign against the 'discriminatory' policy.

She started making 'harsh grunting sounds', which her panicked parents described as sounding like 'a death rattle'.

Rushing to hospital, Ms Price told how she ran into A&E screaming 'she's not breathing', and praised emergency staff whose quick intervention saved Florence's life.

The infant was diagnosed with bronchiolitis, rhinoviruses and a blood infection, with her lungs not able to operate properly on their own.

Florence was admitted and given urgent breathing support with the help of a CPAP machine, and her parents were told she could be put into a coma at any time.

Ms Price remained at her bedside throughout, despite still being in pain after having to have her hip put back in place after childbirth. 

Both her hips dislocated while giving birth, and her feet were so swollen during her daughter's treatment that she couldn't walk down the corridor.

She said that at one point she hadn't eaten in 28 hours, but when a food trolley was brought round to the ward, staff asked if she was breastfeeding.

Ms Price explained that Florence was on formula as she had been diagnosed with jaundice and did not take to breastmilk after the first 24 hours.

The hospital worker then informed the 'shocked' Ms Price, already 'disappointed that she could not breastfeed, that she was not eligible to be given any food.

With Mr Price's paternity leave coming to an end, his wife was left waiting for relatives to finish work for the day to bring food and supplies while she remained with their daughter around the clock.

To make matters worse, Ms Price told how she was informed by staff she would have to bring in formula herself to feed Florence, despite Aneurin Bevan Health Board saying its policy is to provide this 'as needed'.

After her mother got in touch with the hospital, staff started providing the family formula. 

As Florence was being treated on a paediatric rather than a maternity ward, hospital policy is only to provide the child with food unless the mother is breastfeeding, as feeding her is then seen as directly supporting the baby's nutrition.

On a maternity ward, both mothers and babies are provided with meals. 

But Ms Price says the policy is 'outdated' and discriminatory towards mothers using formula who are 'doing their very best in difficult circumstances'.

She has launched a petition calling for all mothers with babies in hospital care to be provided with meals, regardless of how their children are fed. 

Ms Price also praised hospital staff for all the care they gave to Florence. 

An Aneurin Bevan Health Board spokesman said: 'We are sorry to hear about Sophie's experience while staying with her child at The Grange University Hospital. 

'We would like to thank her for taking the time to share her feedback and for her kind comments about the excellent care her baby received from our staff. We understand how difficult and stressful it can be for parents when their child is in hospital.

'Where individuals are unable to access the hospital canteen, have limited family or social support, or are unable to leave their child's bedside, wards can provide a small selection of basic food items and refreshments to help meet immediate needs.

'In our paediatric unit, meals are usually provided to breastfeeding mothers because this directly supports their baby's feeding and nutrition. For babies who are formula fed, formula is provided as needed. Although this is our Standard Operating Procedure, ward teams can also look at individual circumstances and offer additional support where appropriate.

'In our maternity wards, mothers are patients in their own right and therefore receive meals as part of their care - whether breastfeeding or not.

'We also recognise that some families may face additional challenges during a child's admission. Where parents are unable to access the hospital canteen, have limited support, or are unable to leave their child's bedside, ward teams can provide a selection of basic food items and refreshments to help meet immediate needs.

'Parents can also access a discounted hospital meal through a ward voucher scheme and where a family is experiencing financial hardship, support can be discussed with the ward team. 

'Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure help is provided fairly and appropriately, taking account of the family's circumstances and the needs of the child.

'We are committed to supporting families throughout their child's stay and encourage anyone experiencing difficulties to speak to the ward team so that appropriate support can be explored.'

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