Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s (LPT) Healthy Together Infant Feeding Team has launched a second community frenotomy clinic as part of a pilot to support families whose babies are having feeding difficulties due to tongue-tie.

The new clinic is based at Hynca Lodge in Hinckley. It provides specialist care to those referred for treatment for their baby’s tongue-tie – a condition affects around one in ten newborns.

Tongue-tie occurs when the strip of skin that connects a baby’s tongue to the bottom of their mouth (called the lingual frenulum) is shorter or tighter than usual. It can restrict tongue movement and make feeding difficult. This can in turn lead to poor weight gain in babies, feeding challenges, and an early or unwanted end to breastfeeding – all of which can impact both a baby and parents’ health. In many cases, a frenotomy, which is a simple, quick and almost painless procedure, where a trained healthcare professional snips the tight frenulum can lead to many positive outcomes for the parent and baby.

These outcomes can include:

  • an improved breastfeeding experience, due to helping the baby to create a deeper, less painful latch and transfer milk more efficiently
  • better nutritional outcomes for the baby, which can also support infant weight gain and reduced hunger
  • a reduction in reflux due to the baby swallowing less air.

The Trust, which provides community, mental health and learning disability services across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR), launched its first clinic at Beaumont Leys Family Centre in August 2025 as part of a two-year pilot.

Before the pilot, many families had to wait a long time to have the procedure done in hospital, have it done at a clinic outside of LLR, or pay to have it done privately.

Since it launched, the pilot has seen over 330 babies treated in a clinic – including four sets of twins. All families seen by the service were done so within two weeks of their referral, with most being seen within a week. Following a frenotomy, every family receives post-procedure support, such as tongue exercises, breastfeeding guidance and latch improvement techniques.

LPT’s Infant Feeding Team lead, Claire Hubbard, said: “It’s so exciting to be able to share this exciting news, especially during world breastfeeding month!

“These clinics have been such a turning point for so many families who were really struggling. So far, over 88% of the families we have spoken to have told us the procedure has resulted in a significant improvement in their baby’s feeding, with a further 6.5% reporting some improvement, which is just fantastic!

“By offering this procedure through the NHS and without very long waiting times, we’re helping to improve outcomes for both babies and parents. Many mothers have told us they have been able to continue breastfeeding when they once thought they’d have to stop due to the pain and stress the tongue-tie was causing.

“We know that breastfeeding offers so many benefits for both baby and mothers, including reducing a baby’s risk of infections, sudden infant death syndrome, obesity and so much more. Being able to help families continue to include breastfeeding in their child’s feeding routine, which will offer them life-long benefits, is such a privilege.”

The pilot, which has been extended until March 2029, is partly funded by the LLR Integrated Care Board (ICB), Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council’s Family Hubs.

Families can be referred to LPT’s infant feeding team through their health visitor or GP.

To watch an interview about Emily, Sam and baby Marnie’s frenotomy experience visit: https://youtu.be/EvtfGWf3TwY?si=YyJAy7EeIyvxMubQ

More information about breastfeeding is available on the Health for Under 5s website: https://healthforunder5s.co.uk/category/feeding-and-nutrition/ and the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/