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Baby Friendly Initiative

Volume 264: debated on Monday 16 October 1995

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To ask the Secretary of State. for Health (1) how many hospitals have been awarded UNICEF/WHO baby friendly awards; [36807](2) what support his Department intends to give to hospitals working towards baby friendly status; and if he will make baby friendly status a mandatory requirement for NHS trusts. [36803]

Two hospitals in England have been awarded the WHO/UNICEF/UK baby friendly initiative status which indicates an international standard in the promotion of breastfeeding. Others are working towards this.The Department's "Breastfeeding Good Practice Guidance to the NHS" was issued to the national health service, including trusts, in May this year. It was prepared in consultation with the national breastfeeding working group on which the UNICEF/UK baby friendly initiative were represented. The guidance gives some prominence to the baby friendly initiative "10 steps to successful breastfeeding" and asks purchasers to incorporate its principles within their purchasing plans. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.