A mother staying by her newborn's intensive care bedside was refused food at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran because she was formula-feeding rather than breastfeeding, leading her to launch a petition for change.
Sophie Price, 22, spent three weeks at the hospital after her five-day-old daughter Florence was admitted with multiple infections and breathing difficulties. Sophie says the care her daughter received was 'absolutely incredible', but when she asked for a sandwich for herself, she was denied after revealing she was formula-feeding.
Mother's account of being denied meals
Sophie, married to Ryli, 23, told Metro: 'It made me feel like an awful mother because I couldn't breastfeed. I felt discriminated against.' She described spending over £1,000 on food during Florence's stay, relying on family members bringing meals after work.
Florence was born on March 14, 2026. Sophie suffered two dislocated hips and hyperstimulation during childbirth. Florence was diagnosed with jaundice, which affected her ability to latch, forcing the switch to formula. Three days after coming home, Florence's condition deteriorated; she made a noise described as a 'death rattle' and was rushed back to A&E.
Hospital's response and policy
At the hospital, Florence was diagnosed with bronchiolitis, rhinitis, and a blood infection. Her oxygen levels were at 70, well below the healthy threshold of 92. She was placed on a CPAP machine and had a tube inserted into her stomach. Sophie said she saw a staff member with a food trolley on her second day, but after mentioning formula feeding, she was told: 'Oh sorry, you're not entitled to food then.'
An Aneurin Bevan University Health Board spokesperson said meals are usually provided to breastfeeding mothers 'because this directly supports their baby's feeding and nutrition', while formula is provided for babies as needed. The board expressed regret over Sophie's experience and noted that ward teams can provide basic food items and refreshments to parents unable to access the canteen, and a discounted meal scheme exists for those in financial hardship.
Wider NHS pressures
Dr John Puntis, co-chair of Keep Our NHS Public and a retired consultant paediatrician, said hospitals have a 'duty of care' to parents of sick children, and making meals dependent on feeding method is 'unacceptable'. He added that financial pressures on hospitals are forcing savings that reduce quality of care. Sophie has launched a petition to try to enact change.
