21st June 2011

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is to be formally presented with the prestigious Baby Friendly Award on Thursday 23^rd June, during National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, at The Women’s Centre, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital at 1pm. 

 

As the latest UK health care facility to win international recognition from UNICEF (United Nation’s Children’s Fund), the Trust will be presented with plaques to mark the accreditation.  They will be unveiled by Baby Friendly Initiative Programme Director, Sue Ashmore.

 

Vivien Mortimore, Head of Midwifery said:

 

 “All the staff in both the hospitals and community are aware of the benefits of breastfeeding and the importance of their role in supporting mothers to breast feed successfully. Staff have really supported the initiative and worked tremendously hard to ensure success.

 

“We are delighted that both Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals will have these plaques to mark what is a very significant achievement.”

 

The Baby Friendly Initiative, set up by UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, is a global programme. In the UK, the initiative works with health professionals to ensure that mothers and babies receive high-quality support to facilitate successful breastfeeding. The Award is given to maternity services after a rigorous assessment by a UNICEF team showed that recognised best practice standards were in place.

"We are delighted that Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has achieved full Baby Friendly status," said Baby Friendly Initiative Programme Director, Sue Ashmore. “Surveys show us that most mothers want to breastfeed but don’t always get the support they need. Mothers in Gloucestershire can be confident that their midwives will provide the highest standard of care.”