Burstow welcomes St Helier moves to real nappies

1.00.00pm GMT Sun 18th May 2003

Burstow campaigns for the use of recyclable 'real' nappies

Local MP Paul Burstow today welcomed the move by St Helier hospital to consider using washable rather than disposable nappies in its maternity wards. Following his letter to John de Braux, Chief Executive of Epsom and St Helier NHS asking for washable nappies to be used by the Trust Mr Burstow received a letter describing the real nappy initiative as a 'live issue for us'.

Mr Burstow has been an active member of the real nappy campaign promoted by the Women's Environmental Network for several years. The campaign focuses on the fact that 7% of all household waste in the UK is made up of throw away nappies which takes up valuable space in landfill, takes decades to degrade and costs council tax payers millions more in refuse collection than if towelling nappies were used.

Mr Burstow said:

"I am delighted that a high user of disposable nappies such as the maternity unit at St Helier is considering switching to reusable ones. Real nappies are more environmentally friendly, are cheaper and better value for money. While the extra costs for disposable nappies can be seen at the counter, it is the unseen costs in vast swathes of landfill sites being taken up with used throw away nappies that does the real damage. "

"ENDS"

"Notes to editors"

"25th April 2003"

"Your ref: deBraux/nappies/080403/MP"

"Mr Paul Burstow MP"

"House of Commons"

"London SW1A 0AA"

"Dear Mr Burstow"

"Thank you for your letter dated 8th April 2003 concerning the use of washable nappies."

"I have discussed the matter with Moira Wheeler, Head of Midwifery, and Geoff Lowry, General Manager of Women's Health and whilst the Trust does not currently use washable nappies, we are watching the trial at Simpson Maternity Pavillion in Edinburgh with interest."

"This is a live issue for us. Staff here are already involved in local initiatives that promote the use of washable nappies by new parents."

"I understand also that the Head of Midwifery has considered their use at Epsom General Hospital following discussions with a surrey based environmentally focused organisation."

"Our priority is to provide an excellent service and, in view of this, we continue to keep an open mind about benefits of using and promoting the use of washable nappies."

"Yours sincerely"

"John de Braux"