2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:24 pm on 9 October 2018.

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Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 2:24, 9 October 2018

(Translated)

I'd like to ask for a statement from the health Secretary, if possible, on the ability of private companies to access hospitals. The company Bounty, we know, provides starter packs to many new mothers and they also come to the wards to offer to take photos of the babies, and they do gather information that is then used to send marketing information to those mothers. Apparently, according to a freedom of information request, Bounty has paid £1,922 to Betsi Cadwaladr health board to have unfettered access to these maternity units across north Wales. I would like to know whether the Government feels that this is acceptable. Is the Government confident that measures are in place to ensure that this is safe? I’ve had mothers complaining that these people disturb them and their babies on the wards in question. Some mothers also say that they’ve received hundreds of marketing e-mails in the months and years after providing that information to companies such as this. We need assurances that the safety of babies, mothers and data is more important than the relatively small income that Betsi Cadwaladr gets for such a service.