Welsh NHS worker wins tribunal claim over space for expressing breast milk

Cardiff: A healthcare worker named Robyn Gibbins has made headlines after winning a tribunal case against a Welsh NHS health board. She faced some serious issues when she returned from maternity leave and found there were no proper facilities for expressing breast milk.

Robyn shared her frustration during the tribunal, explaining how she was left without a lockable room for privacy. Imagine being in that situation! She even had a male colleague walk in on her while she was expressing milk, which is just so uncomfortable.

After raising her concerns, she was promised things would change, but when she came back from her second maternity leave, nothing had improved. Instead of a secure space, she was given a sign to hang on the door and told to use a chair to block it. Can you believe that?

She felt it was undignified and a fire hazard. Robyn expressed how vulnerable and embarrassed she felt during those moments. It wasn’t until months later that a simple lock was finally installed on a door, but even then, the room was only available sometimes.

The employment judge recognized that expressing milk is a personal and intimate activity. They noted that Robyn felt anxious and belittled by the lack of proper facilities. It’s really important for mothers to feel secure and comfortable when expressing milk, and clearly, that wasn’t happening.

The health board has stated they’re committed to treating all staff with respect and dignity. They’re cooperating with the tribunal, but it’s clear that there’s a lot of work to be done to ensure this doesn’t happen again. A hearing for Robyn’s compensation is set for later.