THE Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) has been awarded the Baby Friendly Award and is the latest UK healthcare facility to win international recognition from Unicef (United Nations’ Children’s Fund).

The Baby Friendly Initiative, set up by Unicef and the World Health Organisation, is a global programme which provides a practical and effective way for health services to improve the care provided for all mothers and babies.

The initiative works with UK public services to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding and to strengthen mother-baby and family relationships. The Award is given to health facilities/hospitals/universities after an assessment by the Unicef team has shown that recognised best practice standards are in place.

Jacqui Featherstone, Associate Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the Family and Women’s Services said: “After our maternity unit received ‘outstanding for caring’ in our latest CQC report, I’m really proud to get further recognition of the care we give to mothers and their newborn babies.

“Breastfeeding protects babies against a wide range of serious illnesses including gastroenteritis and respiratory infections in infancy as well as asthma, cardiovascular disease and diabetes in later life. We also know that breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk of some cancers.

“However a mother chooses to feed her baby, she can be sure that she will be supported to form a strong, loving relationship with her newborn – through having maximum skin-to-skin contact and understanding how her baby communicates with her and needs her to respond.”

Sue Ashmore, Baby Friendly Initiative Programme Director, said: “We are delighted that The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust has achieved full Baby Friendly status. Surveys show us that most mothers want to breastfeed but don’t always get the support they need. Mothers at PAHT can be confident that their staff will provide high standards of care.”

For more information about breastfeeding you can visit http://www.unicef.org.uk/Baby/Friendly.