A hospital team has been honoured with prestigious recognition for improving patient care.
The milestone achievement sees the unit join a select few institutions to have gained recognition from the UK Committee for UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) in the country.
Neonatal unit ward manager Vicky Ford said: “This award from the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to increase breastfeeding rates and improve care for all mothers on our neonatal unit.
“I am immensely proud of the whole team.”
Part of a global programme, The Baby Friendly Initiative aims to transform healthcare for babies, their mothers and families as part of a wider global partnership between UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the UK, the BFI works with public services to better support families with feeding and developing close, loving relationships to ensure that all babies get the best possible start in life.
The distinguished award is given to health facilities/hospitals/universities after an extensive assessment by a UNICEF UK team has shown that recognised best practice standards are in place.
Project lead Jenna Lawler said: “Breastfeeding protects babies against a wide range of serious illnesses, including gastroenteritis and respiratory infections in infancy, as well as cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes and obesity later in life.
“We also know that breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk of some cancers and that it supports the mental health of both mother and baby.”
UNICEF UK BFI deputy programme director Anne Woods added: “We are delighted that the neonatal unit has achieved full Baby Friendly status.
Our work to support breastfeeding is based on extensive and resounding evidence that breastfeeding saves lives, improves health and cuts costs in every country worldwide, rich and poor alike. Mothers in James Cook’s neonatal unit can be confident that the whole team will provide high standards of care.”