NHS Lanarkshire Maternity Services, in partnership with the and both North and South Health and Social Care Partnerships, has been awarded the prestigious UNICEF- Achieving Sustainabilty Gold Baby Friendly Accreditation.
This accolade recognises the organisations’ exceptional and sustained commitment to supporting infant feeding and fostering strong parent-infant relationships.
The award was formally presented by Janet Dalzell, Professional Lead for Scotland for UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative during the 5th Annual Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Conference, held on 3 September 2024.
The Baby Friendly Initiative, led by UNICEF in the UK, aims to support all babies to get the best start in life by promoting and protecting breastfeeding, as well as improving care for all mothers and their babies. The Gold Award represents the highest level of recognition and is given to organisations that have not only achieved Baby Friendly standards but have also maintained excellence in infant feeding support over time. Janet commended the staff on their commitment and drive to improve services for families in Lanarkshire.
Anne Marie Bruce, Infant Feeding Development Midwife and Baby Friendly Lead for NHS Lanarkshire, expressed her pride in the achievement: “This Gold Award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Maternity, Health Visiting and Family Nurse Partnership workforce in collaboration with our Health improvement teams our entire team. Breastfeeding is one of the greatest equalisers in addressing health inequalities, ensuring that all babies have the same healthy start in life. It also significantly impacts the health and wellbeing of mothers.
“We are committed to helping mums achieve their breastfeeding goals and continually improving our services to support them on this journey. This recognition from UNICEF acknowledges our ongoing efforts and dedication to making a positive difference for families in Lanarkshire.”
The 5th Annual Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Conference served as a platform to celebrate this milestone and bring together healthcare professionals, mothers, babies, and the community. The conference also saw Paul Manning, Chief Executive of South Lanarkshire Council signing up up all of South Lanarkshire Counicl public facing buildings to the “Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland” scheme.
The conference also featured key discussions on overcoming barriers to breastfeeding and creating a positive culture where babies can thrive.
Keynote speaker Professor Amy Brown shared insights from her research on understanding normal newborn behaviour and supporting breastfeeding women, while a personal story from a mother highlighted the real-life challenges and triumphs of the breastfeeding journey.
Carrie McCulloch, Associate Nurse Director at North Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “For many of us, this conference is the most exciting day of the year. Breastfeeding is the single most important thing we can do for our babies, and everyone has a role to play in offering support—from mums and dads to family members, friends, and our wider community. Our babies are our future, and we all share the responsibility of helping them thrive.”
Lynsey Sutherland, Associate Nurse Director at South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “This is our fifth annual event, and it demonstrates our unwavering dedication to babies, mums, and families. By continuing to create a positive culture, we can help babies thrive. Today, our focus is on understanding normal newborn behaviour, helping mums respond to their babies’ cues, and ensuring they receive the support they need from those around them.””
Susan Short, Public Health Nutritionist and Maternal Infant Nutrition Lead for NHS Lanarkshire, added: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but we’re also focused on identifying barriers to breastfeeding and working together to overcome them.
This Gold Award marks a significant achievement for NHS Lanarkshire and its partners, reinforcing their dedication to supporting families and creating a healthier future for the region’s youngest residents.
