Midwives from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals (BSUH) will be presented with a Certificate of Commitment at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath this week in recognition of the work the hospital trust is doing to encourage local mums to breastfeed.
The certificate is the first step towards gaining international recognition from Unicef’s Baby Friendly Initiative and will be presented to BSUH Deputy Head of Midwifery Jane Urben by local mum, Sacha Slade, and her 10-month-old baby daughter, Dora.
Sacha and Dora, who live in Burgess Hill, are regular attendees of the weekly drop-in breastfeeding clinic at the Princess Royal Hospital. The clinic offers free breastfeeding support and advice every Wednesday between 1.30pm and 3.30pm, plus a chance for new mums to meet other local mothers and their babies.
“Breastfeeding protects babies against a wide range of serious illnesses including gastroenteritis and respiratory infections in infancy as well as allergies and diabetes in childhood. We also know that breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk of some cancers – and it’s easier, cheaper and less hassle than bottle feeding,” says Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals’ Infant Feeding Manager, Janet Everest.
“We decided to join forces with the Baby Friendly Initiative to increase breastfeeding rates and to improve care for all mothers at the Princess Royal Hospital and the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton,” says Janet.
The Baby Friendly Initiative, set up by Unicef and the World Health Organisation, is a global programme which aims to improve the care provided to all mothers and babies. In the UK, the initiative works with health professionals to ensure that mothers and babies receive high-quality support to enable successful breastfeeding. The Certificate of Commitment recognises that a health care facility is dedicated to implementing recognised best practice standards.
Notes to editors
Contact the BSUH communications team:
Rachel Clinton: 01273 664911 (rachel.clinton@bsuh.nhs.uk)
Martha Robinson: 01273 664757 (martha.robinson@bsuh.nhs.uk )
Photos Members of the press are welcome to attend the certificate presentation at 12.45pm in the ground floor seminar room by the antenatal clinic at the Princess Royal Hospital on Wednesday 15 July.
For more information about Unicef’s Baby Friendly initiative, contact the Unicef Press Office on 020 7430 0162 or visit www.babyfriendly.org.uk
