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A Sydney hospital bent its policy to provide a South Nowra mum nursing a newborn with meals, and now her family has launched a campaign to ensure all mothers in her position across NSW are catered for.
After three weeks at the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, sourcing food from relatives, friends and take away stores, Elizabeth Jarvis, there to feed her premature baby, has been placed on the hospital’s meal plan.
“She’s been over the moon to see vegetables,” father in law Alastair McDonough said.
“It’s made a hell of a difference to her demeanor.”
The hospital told Mr McDonough it’s working to revise its policy, which at present, only allows meal provisions for the patient (the child).
Mr McDonough wants it written in legislation, that all hospitals should cater for mothers there to feed newborns.
“I want to change the whole system, this should be statewide,” he said.
“If the nursing mother wasn’t there, a nurse would be occupied around eight hours a day to feed and calm the baby.
“Having the mother there is not only more healthy for the baby, but it takes pressure off the system.”
He appealed to South Coast MP Shelley Hancock, who threw her support behind the Nowra local, and forwarded the idea to Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
“It’s just ridiculous that some hospitals aren’t looking after mothers in Liz’s situation,” she said.