Introduce routine tongue-tie screening for all newborn babies in Scotland.

Background

the Scottish Government to introduce routine tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) screening for all newborn babies in NHS Scotland. Babies with a clinically significant tongue-tie that is affecting feeding should receive prompt assessment and treatment, including frenotomy where appropriate.

Additional details

Tongue-tie can affect newborn babies by causing breastfeeding and bottle-feeding difficulties, poor weight gain, prolonged feeds, pain during breastfeeding and unnecessary distress for families. Access to NHS assessment and treatment varies across Scotland, creating a postcode lottery. We call on the Scottish Government to introduce routine newborn tongue-tie assessments and ensure timely NHS treatment, including frenotomy where clinically appropriate.