The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and support for infant feeding plays an important role in achieving this.

Midwifery, health visiting, and infant feeding teams are central to supporting families with infant feeding. This includes identifying feeding challenges and providing tailored support for breastfeeding and bottle feeding. We are currently refreshing the guidance for The Healthy Child Programme, which includes health visiting services, to strengthen service quality and promote consistency in service delivery.

Dedicated paediatric surgery days are being introduced within integrated care boards, using existing NHS estate in day surgery or hub settings, to boost surgical activity for children and young people. Surgical hubs play a key role in delivering increased activity and ensuring timely access to planned care.

We are also strengthening local support for tongue-tie through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, which is investing £18.5 million in 2025/26 to improve infant feeding services in 75 local authorities in England. Local authorities are working with local health partners to improve access to timely tongue-tie support and treatment. In some areas, new tongue-tie clinics have been set up so that more families can access timely support.

For expectant parents, the majority of NHS trusts offer free antenatal education services, including caring for the baby and feeding. We are working with NHS England to improve the quality of antenatal classes.

Information about the symptoms and treatment of tongue-tie is also available on the NHS website and the Best Start in Life email programme for parents.

The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and support for infant feeding plays an important role in achieving this.

Midwifery, health visiting, and infant feeding teams are central to supporting families with infant feeding. This includes identifying feeding challenges and providing tailored support for breastfeeding and bottle feeding. We are currently refreshing the guidance for The Healthy Child Programme, which includes health visiting services, to strengthen service quality and promote consistency in service delivery.

Dedicated paediatric surgery days are being introduced within integrated care boards, using existing NHS estate in day surgery or hub settings, to boost surgical activity for children and young people. Surgical hubs play a key role in delivering increased activity and ensuring timely access to planned care.

We are also strengthening local support for tongue-tie through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, which is investing £18.5 million in 2025/26 to improve infant feeding services in 75 local authorities in England. Local authorities are working with local health partners to improve access to timely tongue-tie support and treatment. In some areas, new tongue-tie clinics have been set up so that more families can access timely support.

For expectant parents, the majority of NHS trusts offer free antenatal education services, including caring for the baby and feeding. We are working with NHS England to improve the quality of antenatal classes.

Information about the symptoms and treatment of tongue-tie is also available on the NHS website and the Best Start in Life email programme for parents.

The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and support for infant feeding plays an important role in achieving this.

Midwifery, health visiting, and infant feeding teams are central to supporting families with infant feeding. This includes identifying feeding challenges and providing tailored support for breastfeeding and bottle feeding. We are currently refreshing the guidance for The Healthy Child Programme, which includes health visiting services, to strengthen service quality and promote consistency in service delivery.

Dedicated paediatric surgery days are being introduced within integrated care boards, using existing NHS estate in day surgery or hub settings, to boost surgical activity for children and young people. Surgical hubs play a key role in delivering increased activity and ensuring timely access to planned care.

We are also strengthening local support for tongue-tie through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, which is investing £18.5 million in 2025/26 to improve infant feeding services in 75 local authorities in England. Local authorities are working with local health partners to improve access to timely tongue-tie support and treatment. In some areas, new tongue-tie clinics have been set up so that more families can access timely support.

For expectant parents, the majority of NHS trusts offer free antenatal education services, including caring for the baby and feeding. We are working with NHS England to improve the quality of antenatal classes.

Information about the symptoms and treatment of tongue-tie is also available on the NHS website and the Best Start in Life email programme for parents.

The Department funds health and care research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds clinical, public health, and social care research and works in partnership with the National Health Service, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR welcomes proposals for research into a range of conditions, including ankyloglossia, at the following link:

https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic

While there is no specific national screening programme or requirement for routinely checking for tongue-tie in newborn babies, where there are difficulties with breast feeding, it is a factor to be considered by health professionals. The Healthy Child Programme will be updated later this year to include guidance on supporting families to connect with services to manage the condition.

We have also recently announced £50 million to improve breastfeeding support. Local authorities will have flexibility in deciding how this funding is used to support families. This may include investing in staff training to discuss additional needs, such as tongue-tie or challenges with lactation and ensuring timely support and treatment is available and accessible.

The Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer of NHS England wrote on 29 April 2020 to confirm arrangements for phasing back health services where local capacity is available. The letter is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/second-phase-of-nhs-response-to-covid-19-letter-from-simon-stevens-and-amanda-pritchard/

For babies with tongue-tie, advice for parents also remains available from a midwife or health visitor.

Student midwives are trained to look for tongue ties as part of the routine new born examination that midwives undertake after birth. However, they are not always easily identifiable at this stage and may not become apparent until babies have feeding problems.

It is for the National Health Service locally to ensure appropriate services are available for the diagnosis and treatment of tongue tie. Tongue tie practitioners may be registered nurses, doctors or midwives and they undertake specialist post-registration training to do this based on organisational need.

The table below shows the mean and median time waited for an elective admission with a primary or secondary diagnosis of ankyloglossia, with a start age between 0 and 4, for the years from 2009-10 to 2015-16.

This is a count of the number of admissions, not a count of people, as one or more person may have been admitted more than once during the each financial year.

The average ages were calculated using the Hospital Episode Statistics 'Startage_Calc' field. This is a derived field which does not contain the exact age for each record, but instead uses midpoint values for patients in each age band under one year old. Therefore the calculated age values shown are only an approximation due to the limitations of the data.

The table below provides counts of finished admission episodes where there was a primary or secondary diagnosis of ankyloglossia ("tongue-tie") for 2009-10 to 2015-16 broken down by patient age.

For clarity the table breaks down our response into the following age categories, under 1 – 28 days, 29 - 90 days, 91 - 181 days, 182 – 364 days and 1 – 4 years. The table excludes patients older than four years.

The Department does not set the content and standard of training for healthcare professionals. The issuing of clinical guidance is the responsibility of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

To assist the NHS, NICE considered the division of tongue tie in depth in July 2004. Current NICE guidelines recommend when considering division of tongue-tie, healthcare professionals should be sure that the parents or carers understand what is involved and consent to the treatment, and the results of the procedure are monitored. In line with NICE guidelines, NHS England expects healthcare professionals to discuss the benefits and risks with the parents or carers of any child.

Ultimately it is for the NHS locally to ensure appropriate services are available for the diagnosis and treatment of tongue-tie. Some babies with tongue-tie can still feed properly and do not need any treatment. If the condition is causing problems with feeding, health professionals should discuss the options with parents and agree the most appropriate form of treatment. For some babies, extra help and support with breastfeeding is all that is needed. If this does not help, the tongue-tie needs to be divided by a registered practitioner.

Health visitors complete a breastfeeding assessment at the new birth visit and if tongue tie is suspected they will refer for assessment through a locally agreed pathway; this is often a paediatrician referral, or some areas have a midwifery led service.

The table below provides counts of finished admission episodes where there was a primary or secondary diagnosis of ankyloglossia ("tongue-tie") for 2011-12 to 2013-14 broken down by patient age.

Common definitions of the word newborn can include babies up until 28 days of age. For clarity the table breaks down our response into the following categories, under 1 day, 1 - 6 days, 7 - 28 days, 1 - 3 months. The table excludes patients older than three months.

It should be noted that this is not a count of people as the same person may have had more than one admission episode within the same time period.

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

No central assessment of the effect of the provision of infant feeding specialists on the early detection and treatment of tongue-tie in infant has been made. The provision of infant feeding specialists is decided at a local level.

The Department does not set the content and standard of training for healthcare professionals. The issuing of clinical guidance is the responsibility of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

To assist the NHS, NICE considered the division of tongue tie in depth in July 2004. Current NICE guidelines recommend when considering division of tongue-tie, healthcare professionals should be sure that the parents or carers understand what is involved and consent to the treatment, and the results of the procedure are monitored. In line with NICE guidelines, NHS England expects healthcare professionals to discuss the benefits and risks with the parents or carers of any child.

Ultimately it is for the NHS locally to ensure appropriate services are available for the diagnosis and treatment of tongue-tie. Some babies with tongue-tie can still feed properly and do not need any treatment. If the condition is causing problems with feeding, health professionals should discuss the options with parents and agree the most appropriate form of treatment. For some babies, extra help and support with breastfeeding is all that is needed. If this does not help, the tongue-tie needs to be divided by a registered practitioner.

Health visitors complete a breastfeeding assessment at the new birth visit and if tongue tie is suspected they will refer for assessment through a locally agreed pathway; this is often a paediatrician referral, or some areas have a midwifery led service.

The table below provides counts of finished admission episodes where there was a primary or secondary diagnosis of ankyloglossia ("tongue-tie") for 2011-12 to 2013-14 broken down by patient age.

Common definitions of the word newborn can include babies up until 28 days of age. For clarity the table breaks down our response into the following categories, under 1 day, 1 - 6 days, 7 - 28 days, 1 - 3 months. The table excludes patients older than three months.

It should be noted that this is not a count of people as the same person may have had more than one admission episode within the same time period.

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

No central assessment of the effect of the provision of infant feeding specialists on the early detection and treatment of tongue-tie in infant has been made. The provision of infant feeding specialists is decided at a local level.

The Department does not set the content and standard of training for healthcare professionals. The issuing of clinical guidance is the responsibility of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

To assist the NHS, NICE considered the division of tongue tie in depth in July 2004. Current NICE guidelines recommend when considering division of tongue-tie, healthcare professionals should be sure that the parents or carers understand what is involved and consent to the treatment, and the results of the procedure are monitored. In line with NICE guidelines, NHS England expects healthcare professionals to discuss the benefits and risks with the parents or carers of any child.

Ultimately it is for the NHS locally to ensure appropriate services are available for the diagnosis and treatment of tongue-tie. Some babies with tongue-tie can still feed properly and do not need any treatment. If the condition is causing problems with feeding, health professionals should discuss the options with parents and agree the most appropriate form of treatment. For some babies, extra help and support with breastfeeding is all that is needed. If this does not help, the tongue-tie needs to be divided by a registered practitioner.

Health visitors complete a breastfeeding assessment at the new birth visit and if tongue tie is suspected they will refer for assessment through a locally agreed pathway; this is often a paediatrician referral, or some areas have a midwifery led service.

The table below provides counts of finished admission episodes where there was a primary or secondary diagnosis of ankyloglossia ("tongue-tie") for 2011-12 to 2013-14 broken down by patient age.

Common definitions of the word newborn can include babies up until 28 days of age. For clarity the table breaks down our response into the following categories, under 1 day, 1 - 6 days, 7 - 28 days, 1 - 3 months. The table excludes patients older than three months.

It should be noted that this is not a count of people as the same person may have had more than one admission episode within the same time period.

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

No central assessment of the effect of the provision of infant feeding specialists on the early detection and treatment of tongue-tie in infant has been made. The provision of infant feeding specialists is decided at a local level.

The Department does not set the content and standard of training for healthcare professionals. The issuing of clinical guidance is the responsibility of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

To assist the NHS, NICE considered the division of tongue tie in depth in July 2004. Current NICE guidelines recommend when considering division of tongue-tie, healthcare professionals should be sure that the parents or carers understand what is involved and consent to the treatment, and the results of the procedure are monitored. In line with NICE guidelines, NHS England expects healthcare professionals to discuss the benefits and risks with the parents or carers of any child.

Ultimately it is for the NHS locally to ensure appropriate services are available for the diagnosis and treatment of tongue-tie. Some babies with tongue-tie can still feed properly and do not need any treatment. If the condition is causing problems with feeding, health professionals should discuss the options with parents and agree the most appropriate form of treatment. For some babies, extra help and support with breastfeeding is all that is needed. If this does not help, the tongue-tie needs to be divided by a registered practitioner.

Health visitors complete a breastfeeding assessment at the new birth visit and if tongue tie is suspected they will refer for assessment through a locally agreed pathway; this is often a paediatrician referral, or some areas have a midwifery led service.

The table below provides counts of finished admission episodes where there was a primary or secondary diagnosis of ankyloglossia ("tongue-tie") for 2011-12 to 2013-14 broken down by patient age.

Common definitions of the word newborn can include babies up until 28 days of age. For clarity the table breaks down our response into the following categories, under 1 day, 1 - 6 days, 7 - 28 days, 1 - 3 months. The table excludes patients older than three months.

It should be noted that this is not a count of people as the same person may have had more than one admission episode within the same time period.

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

No central assessment of the effect of the provision of infant feeding specialists on the early detection and treatment of tongue-tie in infant has been made. The provision of infant feeding specialists is decided at a local level.

The Department does not set the content and standard of midwifery training, which is ultimately the responsibility of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The Government has mandated Health Education England (HEE) to provide national leadership on education, training and workforce development in the national health service. This mandate includes a commitment that HEE will ensure that midwifery training produces midwives with the required competencies to practise in the new NHS. HEE will work with stakeholders to influence training curricula as appropriate.

It is for the NHS locally to ensure appropriate services are available for the diagnosis and treatment of tongue tie. Some babies with tongue tie can still feed properly and do not need any treatment. If the condition is causing problems with feeding, health professionals should discuss the options with parents and agree the most appropriate form of treatment.

For some babies, extra help and support with breastfeeding is all that is needed. If this does not help, the tongue tie needs to be divided by a registered practitioner.

To assist the NHS, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) considered the division of ankyloglossia (tongue tie) in depth in July 2004. Current NICE guidelines recommend when considering division of tongue tie, healthcare professionals should discuss the benefits and risks with the parents or carers of any child before they consent to the treatment, and the results of the procedure are monitored.

The Department does not set the content and standard of midwifery training, which is ultimately the responsibility of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The Government has mandated Health Education England (HEE) to provide national leadership on education, training and workforce development in the national health service. This mandate includes a commitment that HEE will ensure that midwifery training produces midwives with the required competencies to practise in the new NHS. HEE will work with stakeholders to influence training curricula as appropriate.

It is for the NHS locally to ensure appropriate services are available for the diagnosis and treatment of tongue tie. Some babies with tongue tie can still feed properly and do not need any treatment. If the condition is causing problems with feeding, health professionals should discuss the options with parents and agree the most appropriate form of treatment.

For some babies, extra help and support with breastfeeding is all that is needed. If this does not help, the tongue tie needs to be divided by a registered practitioner.

To assist the NHS, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) considered the division of ankyloglossia (tongue tie) in depth in July 2004. Current NICE guidelines recommend when considering division of tongue tie, healthcare professionals should discuss the benefits and risks with the parents or carers of any child before they consent to the treatment, and the results of the procedure are monitored.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

It has been good practice for many years for all babies to have a careful physical examination after birth. On the advice of the UK NSC, the Department has set up a programme centre to oversee the implementation of a high quality and consistent NHS Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Screening Programme.

All parents of newborn babies are offered the opportunity to have their child examined within the first 72 hours. The examination includes a general physical check as well as examination of the baby's eyes, heart, hips and testes in boys. As some conditions can develop later, the examination is repeated at six to eight weeks of age usually by a general practitioner.

The UK NSC has not reviewed the evidence for lip and tongue tie screening. However, where stakeholder organisations or individuals feel that there is enough evidence published in peer reviewed journals to consider screening for a condition they can submit a policy proposal to the UK NSC. Further information is available on the UK NSCs website at:

www.screening.nhs.uk/policyreview

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published guidance on 'Division of tongue tie for breastfeeding', 2005, on a procedure to help babies with a condition known as ankyloglossia or tongue tie to breastfeed. It is for the local NHS to plan, develop and implement the use of any such guidance in order to meet the needs and circumstances of the local population.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published guidance on ‘Division of tongue tie for breastfeeding’, 2005, on a procedure to help babies with a condition known as ankyloglossia or tongue tie to breastfeed. It is for the local national health services to plan, develop and implement the use of any such guidance in order to meet the needs and circumstances of the local population.

The Department's Public Health Outcomes Framework 2013-16, published in January 2012 includes ‘Breastfeeding initiation and prevalence of breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks after birth’ as one of the indicators for health improvement. The objective for this domain being that people are helped to live healthy lifestyles, make healthy choices and reduce health inequalities.

The Government has also made the challenging commitment to have an extra 4,200 health visitors by 2015 who can provide support to women who want to breastfeed but may find it difficult.