10/10/2009: "doing things on the cheap has a high price"

there can be no substitute for experience
having several departments doing the same job, for less money is always damaging, never more apparent when it involves a public service.

less than four weeks have passed since lil tammy came into our world, and already it is clear that having trained experienced people instead of an army of people who have made careers out of giving advice about things they have no experience about, is damaging the service for the people that use it.

expressed milk
(this is where breast milk is extracted using a pump into a bottle, so that either parent can feed their child)
you would think that a standard could be agreed by all parties on this, after all the millions spent on testing and reviews of it.

baby books from quangos - keep breast milk in the fridge for upto 5 days
midwife - you can keep breast milk in the fridge for upto 24 hours
doctor - breast milk can be kept refridgerated for 3 days
health visitor - breast milk is safe to keep in the fridge for upto 8 days
we are left being told to "do what feels right!" - but what is right and what is wrong? you are all contradicting yourselves i told the health visitor... i know it is like that she replied, my advice is to do what you feel is right for you!
thats as clear as mud then!!

thrush
midwife - i cant see any form of thrush, but get it checked by a doctor
doctor - she hasnt got thrush as her cheeks are clear
health visitor - she has got thrush - then writes out a prescription! (with no access to my baby's medical records she issues a prescription???) - ironic as this is then dispensed at a supermarket by a person who is training to be a pharmacist, whilst the supposedly watching pharmacist nips off for her break!

colic
midwife - she hasnt got colic, as breast feeding doesnt leave a baby with much wind
doctor - she may have colic, try something just in case
health visitor - she has colic, carry on using the treatment you are using!

i dont know whats more alarming - the fact that a health visitor can issue a prescription and over rule a doctor or the complete lack of any consistant advice issued by so many jobsworths who all work in the same field but have different job titles - all being paid for by the taxpayer???