Open petition: Review and fund the addition of routine NHS newborn tongue-tie assessments

Created by Julia Lawton
Closes on 31 January 2027

Review and fund the addition of routine tongue-tie assessments for all newborn babies as part of standard NHS newborn examinations in the first days after birth, alongside existing newborn checks and appropriate referral pathways where needed.

Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition present at birth that can restrict tongue movement. In some babies, it can cause feeding difficulties, poor latch, maternal nipple pain, prolonged feeding times, and poor weight gain. The NHS recognises tongue-tie can affect both breastfeeding and bottle feeding, yet some cases are only identified after problems develop. We believe assessment during routine newborn checks could help identify feeding issues earlier and enable access to support sooner.

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