CONFUSION surrounds the county council’s plans for breastfeeding support in Basingstoke and Deane following the closure of five drop-in centres.

As reported in The Gazette, campaigning mums lost their hard-fought battle to save the vital breastfeeding drop-in centres from closure after the county council approved a new model of support.

Five of the six centres closed last week, at Chineham, Tadley, Whitchurch, Kingsclere and Overton.

But Hampshire County Council has since revealed that the health visiting service is proposing to open five new drop-in centres in Basingstoke and Deane.

The Gazette has tried to find out from the council its plans for the new centres, including who will run them and what sort of support they will offer.

But the council has failed to provide any further details, leaving mums confused about what support they can expect to receive in the future.

In the meantime, national charity the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) has agreed to fundraise to keep one Basingstoke centre open at Brookvale Village Hall, so mothers are still able to access some support.

The new service will be available through Babies and Breastfeeding Information, Encouragement and Support group (B.A.B.I.E.S) on Friday mornings from 10am to 11.30am, with a professionally trained breastfeeding counsellor.

Mindy Noble, from the Hampshire Breastfeeding Counselling Service, said: “The biggest issue is that the proposed service would be run by health visitors which isn’t going to be anywhere near the professionalism of the drop-ins that have closed. We have trained for two-and-a-half years whereas they have trained for two days.”

Mrs Noble said she heard from a mum who was struggling to breastfeed, and said: “What do you say to a woman on a Monday who can’t see anyone until Friday? She won’t be breastfeeding by Friday without support.”

The counsellor volunteered to visit the woman at home, but said she cannot do this for all mums.

She has also struggled to obtain information from the council, adding: “We are aware that health visitors are very unsure about working without a specialist service. I won’t be directing a mum to someone who has two days training, because that mum won’t get her needs met. It’s very disappointing.”

Donate at justgiving.com/BasingstokeNCTBABIES.