Babies in Teesside are now receiving specialised tongue-tie support closer to home following the launch of a new clinic at The James Cook University Hospital.
The weekly clinic offers holistic breastfeeding support and tongue-tie division, which can help mums to continue breastfeeding and reduce symptoms associated with tongue-tie.
Previously, parents and their newborns who are accessing care at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had to travel to other trusts as far as Newcastle or County Durham.
But thanks to the new partnership with Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland Family Hubs, newborn babies, aged up to 12 weeks old, are now receiving the care they need in Middlesbrough.
“We are delighted to be able to offer this regular service in Middlesbrough as we know it’ll make a huge difference to our patients in Teesside and North Yorkshire,” said Laura Paterson specialist midwife for infant feeding.
“For a number of years, we have relied on referring to other trusts, which at times carried a bit of a wait, by which time many families had given up breastfeeding or accessed private services.
“In 2023 alone, we referred 102 babies to other NHS tongue-tie services.
“We hope that having our very own clinic in the paediatric day unit at James Cook will give babies the best possible start to life and improve their long-term health.”
Laura added: “We would like to say an enormous thank you to Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland Family Hubs who have jointly funded the equipment and staff training for this new service.”
‘It definitely saved our breastfeeding journey’
Charlotte Cooney, 29, is among those who have benefited from the new clinic after her three-week-old son Ellis underwent tongue-tie division.
She said: “Before attending the clinic I sat crying every night. There was very little support, so I rang the trust’s advice line and the breastfeeding team at the Friarage told me about the clinic. Within a week he was referred and seen.
I’m a really determined person and have always wanted to breastfeed but I honestly think if it wasn’t for the clinic I would have stopped. It definitely saved our breastfeeding journey.
“I didn’t expect to be seen so quickly and to get treatment on the same day.
“As soon as they did the procedure, I could tell the difference straight away.
“We’ve gone from hour-long feeds to 25-minute feeds – breastfeeding is now a joy, it’s not painful and he’s getting what he needs.”
Sarah Winspear said: “It’s clear from the feedback we’ve received so far that the service has been a great opportunity to enhance the continuity of care between midwifery and health visiting services.
“It’s really good that we can now assess in the community, invite families into a local service and if needed provide continuity of ongoing support at home following their appointment.”