The Countess of Chester Hospital's Maternity Unit recently underwent a review by UNICEF's Baby Friendly Initiative, scoring 45/45 points.
The Trust's Maternity Unit was externally audited by UNICEF UK as part of a three-stage assessment in October 2012 and were recently informed that they had achieved the Baby Friendly Initiative Award. Of the 32 hospitals in the North West only 10 are fully accredited with this prestigious award, putting the Countess among a select group of top performing Trusts.
The Baby Friendly Initiative is a worldwide programme of the World Health Organization and UNICEF. It was established in 1992 to encourage maternity units to implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and to practise in accordance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes.
The assessment reviewed the units Breastfeeding Policy, Staff Training, Antenatal Information, Care at Delivery, Postnatal Support and Follow up Support, amongst other areas.
Julie Fogarty, Head of Midwifery, said: "I am delighted as this is such a stringent assessment and to retain full accreditation is a great achievement."
The Baby Friendly Initiative works with the health care system to ensure a high standard of care for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers and babies. Support is provided for health care facilities that are seeking to implement recognised standards of best practice in the care of mothers and babies, an assessment and accreditation process recognises those that have achieved the required standard.
