I pay for "Breastfeeding Coordinators"!

Sponge

michaels wrote: »

What I find disappointing is that we need such jobs - why are we failing to educate ourselves

Surely you've answered your own question? The job of the breastfeeding coordinator is to educate/assist people on such matters. The requirement came first, then the post. And there is a requirement.

To another poster:

Maybe I've missed it, but I couldn't see anything in that article that said how much this post was paid, so mouthing off that such a person is on 40k is rubbish.

Who's to say that this isn't just a title given to someone that does lots of other stuff too? That is, a mid-wife that's highly skilled, trained and knowledgeable in such matters and has been given another task to do (and associated meaningless title) along with all the other things he/she does, without actually getting paid any more for the trouble?

I'm a civil servant and have a main job (and title) and every year I get given extra tasks & responsibilities and sometimes even 'add-on' job titles like 'co-ordinator', 'liaison officer', 'controller'. I sure as hell don't get paid extra for doing it. Senior management think giving people flashy sounding job titles is reward enough.

casper_g

Sponge wrote: »

Maybe I've missed it, but I couldn't see anything in that article that said how much this post was paid, so mouthing off that such a person is on 40k is rubbish.

Agreed that 40K sounds high. I could believe that the total cost of employing a breastfeeding coordinator would be around that much, but I'd be astonished to learn the salary was this big.

FTBFun

casper_g wrote: »

Agreed that 40K sounds high. I could believe that the total cost of employing a breastfeeding coordinator would be around that much, but I'd be astonished to learn the salary was this big.

Errr.....

http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/cgi-bin/vacdetails.cgi?selection=912683306

Outside of London:

http://www.nhscontractjobs.co.uk/permanent-jobs/view/1243/Breast-Feeding-Coordinator/

Still, as alluded to, £40k might be worth it if it costs the NHS less in the long term.

Rochdale_Pioneers

Its money well spent because its preventative medicine. The coordinator - who isn't anywhere near £40k - runs a team of volunteer peer-supporters. They give practical advice and encouragement to mothers who then keep breastfeeding. That makes their children healthier which reduces NHS bills later.

ILW

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

Its money well spent because its preventative medicine. The coordinator - who isn't anywhere near £40k - runs a team of volunteer peer-supporters. They give practical advice and encouragement to mothers who then keep breastfeeding. That makes their children healthier which reduces NHS bills later.

If they are all volunters, why not have a volunteer coordinator as well?

the_flying_pig

RenovationMan wrote: »

Why is this a non-job? The medical benefits of breast feeding, for both the mother and the child are well documented, including reductions in incidents of breast cancer for mothers and helping the development of a baby’s brain, eye sight, immune system and digestive system as well as warding off obesity.

Unfortunately a lot of ladies struggle to breast feed and often give up without advice and assistance. The UK has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in Europe despite the well known health benefits. Breast feeding co-ordinators are there to help ladies achieve and then persevere with it for at least the first 6 months of the baby's life.

They are cheaper than paying a midwife or doctor, who have little time for this anyway and I feel that anything that can prevent cancer, obesity and boost the immune system in general will more than pay for itself in saving NHS funds over the child's lifetime.

Compared to the 'old days' we have recently saved an awful lot of money on NHS post-natal care [essentially by not offering any, to speak of]. If a few [no doubt modestly-paid] posts such as this are the price we have to pay for these savings then so be it.

Middle-class women in particular get force-fed a load of propaganda about how they ought to breast feed but beyond this practical assistance is needed. Not so long ago my friend’s wife gave up on it after a few days when [in my opinion based on second hand experience] she could perhaps have been persuaded to persevere with a bit of advice and support along the lines of: (1) yes it’s normal for you to hurt/chap/bleed when new to it – you need to be a bit braver; (2) yes it does get better over time; (3) here are some plastic nipple guards that help a bit; (4) ditto ‘lanolin’ cream; (5) how about occasionally ‘expressing’ or using formula when you get particularly sore but going back to it; (6) take it one day at a time - if you do have to give up and switch to formula the baby won't grow up to be wayne rooney, just do your best for now; and (7) etc.

Radiantsoul

ILW wrote: »

If they are all volunters, why not have a volunteer coordinator as well?

Presumably every job in the world could be replaced by a volunteer?

ILW

Radiantsoul wrote: »

Presumably every job in the world could be replaced by a volunteer?

Only in the areas where volunteers are available. This appears to be one of them.

Radiantsoul

ILW wrote: »

Only in the areas where volunteers are available. This appears to be one of them.

Presumably there are volunteers for prostate examinations too.

Doozergirl

The_White_Horse wrote: »

unfortunately i don't think many women will pay a quid to look up my 'arris

I'd pay a quid to put something sharp up it