PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(28 August 2026)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consideration has the Government given to adopting principles of informed consent and shared decision making as part of infant feeding policy.

Asked by:
Lizzi Collinge (Labour)

We are committed to giving every child the best start in life by ensuring that all families can access consistent, high-quality and non-judgmental infant feeding support that meets their needs, regardless of how they choose to feed their baby. Informed consent and shared decision-making are established principles of healthcare and reflected in national antenatal and postnatal guidance. The guidance supports women and parents to make informed choices about infant feeding, based on relevant evidence-based information and their individual needs, circumstances, and preferences. National guidance does not prevent early supplementation while breastfeeding. Where supplementary feeds are being considered, healthcare professionals should provide relevant information and support and discuss the woman’s circumstances and preferences, and agree an appropriate feeding plan.

I refer the Hon Member to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance on antenatal and postnatal care, which is available at the following two links:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng201/resources/antenatal-care-pdf-66143709695941

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng194/resources/postnatal-care-pdf-66142082148037

Answered by:
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