Families from Wisbech with newborns struggling to feed will no longer have to travel to Norwich or Great Yarmouth for specialist help.  

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King’s Lynn, has announced the return of its tongue-tie clinic, which will run weekly.  

Tongue-tie is a condition that affects around one in 10 babies and can cause feeding difficulties.  

A simple and quick procedure can address the issue – but the service hasn’t been available at the QEH for around a year.  

Instead, families have been sent to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital or James Paget University Hospital in Great Yarmouth.  

Others have decided to get the procedure done privately.  

Terri Denington, an Infant Feeding Coordinator and Tongue-tie Practitioner, will be running the Frenulotomy Clinic, as it is known medically. 

Wisbech Standard: Baby Orla Chapman, from the King’s Lynn area, was the first baby to visit the newly reopened tongue-tie clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King's Lynn.Baby Orla Chapman, from the King’s Lynn area, was the first baby to visit the newly reopened tongue-tie clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King's Lynn. (Image: Supplied by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital)

She said: “This is a really important service for new parents as tongue tie can really affect how baby feeds and cause lots of worry in those early days at home.   

“Having this procedure at their local hospital will reduce stress, travel time and make families and babies all feel more at ease.”   

She added: “Since April 2022 we did not have a qualified practitioner to undertake the clinic.   

“We were therefore referring families to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and James Paget University Hospitals who have this service in place.   

“My team have been working hard to reinstate the service since this time and it’s great to be back up and running to support our local families.” 

Wisbech Standard: Baby Orla Chapman, and her mum Sarah, with infant feeding specialist Terri Denington.Baby Orla Chapman, and her mum Sarah, with infant feeding specialist Terri Denington. (Image: Supplied by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital)

Baby Orla Chapman, from the King’s Lynn area, was the first baby to visit the clinic and have the procedure when she was just over a week old.  

Her mum Sarah explained: “Feeding is now pain free and Orla reacted really well and didn’t seem bothered at all.  

“We all left clinic feeling happy!”