‘Desperate families need better help’ with tongue tie

By Jane Dreaper, Health correspondent, BBC News

Services for babies with breastfeeding problems because of tongue tie need to be improved, a parenting charity says.

The condition, which restricts the movement of the tongue, can be treated with a simple procedure.

No safety concerns

Tongue tie varies in severity. If a procedure is needed, the fold of the skin is cut in what is known as division.

The healthcare watchdog NICE endorsed the procedure in 2005, saying there were no major safety concerns. It is often done by surgeons but other healthcare professionals can perform it.

Figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that more than 5,000 babies in England had tongue-tie division in hospital last year. Others may have had the procedure in community settings.