NHS Dumfries and Galloway Health Visiting Service has been awarded the prestigious UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Accreditation and are the latest UK health care facilities to win international recognition from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund). The Award was presented by Theresa McElhone to Health Visiting Services earlier this month.
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. In the UK, the initiative works with UK public services to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding and to strengthen mother-baby and family relationships. Support for these relationships is important for all babies, not only those who are breastfed. The Award is given after an assessment by a UNICEF team has shown that recognised best practice standards are in place.
Liz Hood (Infant Feeding Coordinator – NHS Dumfries and Galloway) said
“This recent accreditation now means that both Maternity Services and Health Visiting Services are fully accredited which is a significant achievement for the staff involved. To obtain full accreditation staff are first interviewed at stage two by external assessors regarding their skills and knowledge and then the mothers are interviewed at stage three, again by external assessors, to explore the level of service they are receiving. The feedback from mothers was very positive throughout this assessment.
“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 – breastfeeding is also cheaper and simply less hassle than bottle feeding, 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.”
UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Programme Director, Sue Ashmore said: “We are delighted that NHS Dumfries and Galloway Health Visiting Services have achieved full Baby Friendly status. Surveys show us that most mothers want to breastfeed but don’t always get the support they need. Mothers in NHS Dumfries and Galloway can be confident that their maternity care staff will provide high standards of care.”
Pictured left to right: Linda Williamson General Manager-Women and Children’s Service, Veronica King – Health Improvement Manager, Christine Sellers Health Visitor, Naomi Campbell – Volunteer, Louise Ross – Volunteer, Theresa McElhone Unicef, Karen King – Consultant Midwife, Lois McCloskey -Volunteer, Pamela McQuaker – Health Visitor, Fiona Robson – Volunteer, Liz Hood-Infant Feeding Coordinator, Michele McCoy – Acting Director of Public Health
