Rotherham mums facing free vitamin deficiencies

ROTHERHAM’S health service has been described as “incapable and complacent” after a concerned dad struggled to access free vitamins for his wife and children.

The father of two, whose wife gave birth last month, said that both his wife’s health visitor and midwife were unaware of the free vitamins which are handed out under the national Healthy Start scheme for families on low income or in receipt of benefits.

Under the scheme, families are given tokens for milk, fruit and vegetables, infant formula as well as free vitamins for mums and children, which should be available from NHS clinics and health centres.

But when the Wingfield dad, who did not wish to be named, tried to claim the vitamins, apart from one chemist who offered to ring around for him, he was met with several blank faces prompting concern that mums across Rotherham were not receiving their entitlement.

He said: “NHS Rotherham are supposed to issue free vitamins to expectant and new mums in the town, but seem incapable of or unwilling to do it.

“Around three to four months ago I tried to claim these, but was astonished to find out that no-one knew where I could get them and were not interested in finding out.

“Eventually, it was the Department of Health who informed me that Rotherham had been allocated funding to provide these vitamins and should have them, but not a health visitor, midwife of staff at the NHS drop-in centre knew about this.”

Following months of enquiries, the 42-year-old now collects his wife’s vitamins from his local health centre but still faces an on-going battle.

“Each time I go there the staff know nothing about them,” he said. “So to my knowledge my wife is the only woman in Rotherham getting the vitamins that the Government say she needs and likewise, the vitamin drops for my sons.

“In my opinion this makes Rotherham PCT at best complacent. People should get what they are entitled to.”

Anna Jones, Public Health Specialist from NHS Rotherham, said that every effort was being made to make sure that the vitamins were being distributed.

She said: “NHS Rotherham supplies children’s vitamins through the health visiting service and all health visitors should be promoting this scheme.

“Systems are currently being developed for the distribution of women’s vitamins through local pharmacies and this should be available in the next few months.

“Since the introduction of the women’s vitamin voucher, there has been a major increase in the number of vitamins being ordered, which has put a huge demand on this service nationally.

“However, NHS Rotherham is making every effort to ensure vitamins are distributed quickly and effectively to families in Rotherham."

For more information contact Anna Jones on 01709 302178 or visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk