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Care Opinion

Lactation services

Posted By cycloneng97

"Lactation services"

About: Telehealth Service - WACHS South West

(as a service user),

I was referred to the lactation service in Busselton when having issues breastfeeding. It took them quite awhile to get in touch with me and then to book an appointment. It then also took quite awhile for any follow up to be booked.

I needed the service quickly as you can imagine having issues breastfeeding. The only other lactation service available nearby is private which is very expensive out of pocket cost. In my opinion, this lack of service and prompt service is going to result in much less breastfed babies in the southwest.

When I did get through, appointments are only Telehealth. I feel this is just highly inappropriate and not helpful in a breastfeeding situation to be trying to do this over the phone. There were technical issues so in the end no visuals even. The whole situation made me feel frustrated, isolated and upset.

The only option is paying lots of money out of pocket to see a private lactation consultant. Which there is only one in the area. Or going to Perth. Which is very difficult with a newborn, particularly when you are having feeding issues. To me, it really highlights the health disparity and access to resources between the metropolitan area and the regional areas. 

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Responses

Response from Karen Swallow, WACHS - South West nearly 2 years ago
Karen Swallow
WACHS - South West

Submitted on 24/06/2022 at 2:12 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 2:34 PM

Dear cycloneng97,

I am genuinely sorry to hear that you have experienced breastfeeding issues and not feeling that you have received timely support.

The WACHS Telehealth Lactation Consultant service has been developing over the last year and the service aims to make contact within 48-72 hours of referral. There had been a recent increase in referrals resulting in women having delayed initial contact from this issue the staffing has subsequently increased and is being monitored regularly. Your feedback has been included in the monthly review.

Busselton Maternity Midwives are happy to support women in our community and can offer a face-face consultation in the early weeks of birth to support our breastfeeding mothers and I am sorry this wasn’t offered to you. In addition, the Child Health Nursing team can provide breast feeding support.

All of these services are funded by WA Country Health Service.

Please do not hesitate to call me on 089753 6131 Monday to Friday 0800-1600 if we can offer you support for your current situation.

With Kindest Regards,

Karen Swallow CNM Maternity

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Response from Lisa Berson, Clinical Nurse Manager, Maternity, WA Country Health Service nearly 2 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Lisa Berson
Clinical Nurse Manager, Maternity,
WA Country Health Service

Submitted on 16/08/2022 at 5:43 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 17/08/2022 at 8:53 AM

Dear cycloneng97,

The Busselton Maternity Team would like to reach out to offer further support or feedback in relation to your Care Opinion message regarding local Lactation Services.

Again we apologise the services were not offered in a timely manner for you to access.

Both Busselton Maternity Team and WACHS Telehealth Lactation Service are able to offer support and lactation services up to 6 weeks from birth as well as home support from the Child Health Nurses.

We are available for you to make contact Mon – Fri 8.00am – 4pm on 08 9753 6131 at your convenience. We look forward to hearing from you soon,

Lisa

Acting Maternity Manager

Busselton Maternity Ward

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Update posted by cycloneng97 (a service user)

Hi, apologies for the late reply. The Busselton midwives were fantastic when I first got home. There was a miscommunication in the referral being made to the lactation service by the CHN. So to my knowledge, the referral wasn’t put in when I requested it. My breastfeeding issues got very bad about week 8, which is when I tried to follow up on the referral and found it wasn’t put in. So I was well and truly discharged from the maternity services at Busselton hospital.

Again, the pandemic climate has affected the way my situation was handled as I find lactation issues can be a very tricky thing to try and work out if you are not face to face. Once the Telehealth service did get in contact with me, the service was pretty good. The follow up was supportive too.

I still think you need more staff and I think, where possible, there needs to be a face to face service I.e. in the bigger areas like Busselton. I know other regions are still doing face to face. I find a lot of emphasis is put on the baby gaining weight as I had damaged nipples caused by feeding issues, but my baby was still gaining weight, I felt it was deemed not as important even though the damage could have prevented me from continuing feeding.

Thank you for the responses. I could not fault the Busselton hospital maternity service. They were amazing based on my experience.

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