Dee Bell

Updated 25 July 2022

Dee Bell is an independent breastfeeding and frenulotomy service who provides breastfeeding support and frenulotomy services in and around Brighton, and West Kent. It is run by one independent registered midwife who has been trained to support new mothers with breastfeeding and identify and treat tongue tie. Parents with babies who struggle with breastfeeding can self-refer for advice, assessment, and care. The service supports mothers to correct problems that hinder babies from feeding well and offers a frenulotomy service, which is the surgical division of the frenulum from under the tongue in babies who struggle to breastfeed. The service provides care at two clinics.

The service is registered with the CQC to provide the regulated activities of

• Surgical procedures

• Treatment of disease and disorder

Updated 25 July 2022

We rated it as good because:

• The provider worked hard to care for mothers and babies and keep them safe. The provider had training in key skills, understood how to protect mothers and babies from abuse, and managed safety well. The provider controlled infection risk well. The provider assessed risks to babies, acted on them and kept good care records. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• The provider offered good care and treatment and gave parents advice on pain relief when they needed it. The provider monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure they maintained their professional competencies. The provider worked for the benefit of families, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.
• The provider treated mothers and babies with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their baby’s needs. They provided emotional support to mothers, families, and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local families, took account of mothers’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People accessed the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
• The provider ran services well using reliable information systems and was proactive in developing their skills. The provider had vision and values and knew how to apply them in their work. They focused on the needs of mothers and baby’s receiving care. The provider was clear about their role and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and was committed to continually improving services.

Updated 25 July 2022

See the main summary above for details.