Two NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) neonatal units have been recognised by UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative for their superior level of care for new parents and their babies.
The neonatal units at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children and Princess Royal Maternity are the first units in Scotland – and the only level three neonatal units in the UK – to be fully accredited with the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Gold and Achieving Sustainability standards.
The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative is an accreditation programme recognised and recommended in numerous government and policy documents across the UK. Its programme sets the standard in care and enables public services to better support families with feeding and developing close and loving relationships so that all babies get the best possible start in life.
The Achieving Sustainability standards, as part of Baby Friendly, are an organisational roadmap for how care providers can implement the initiative in a way that is both effective in the short term and sustainable over time. A service is commended with ‘Achieved Sustainability’ when it has implemented and maintained the core Baby Friendly standards for at least two years, confirmed by a full reassessment. In addition, it must have adequate leadership structures in place to support continued maintenance of the standards and for progressing and improving the standards over time. Finally, the service must also demonstrate that they cultivate a positive and enabling culture for Baby Friendly, with consideration given to the specific cultural and societal challenges in the UK.
The neonatal units at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children and the Princess Royal Maternity achieved their new status by surpassing ticking these boxes and beyond, a feat that was celebrated by all staff, including Gillian Bowker, Neonatal Infant Feeding Lead, NHS GGC.
“Our neonatal teams operate with a collaborative understanding of what is needed to achieve success, and this is reflected in the award that we received today. We work hard together to create environments that make families feel at home, especially when they are at their most vulnerable. Enabling families to have close and loving relationships with their babies is key to achieving these standards and impacts on babies and their family way beyond their stay on the neonatal unit,” said Gillian.
Throughout the accreditation journey the units have continually improved the support they provide to ensure babies receive their mother’s breastmilk as soon as possible due to it being like a medicine for babies when they are born sick or early.
“Central to all of this is a culture that values parents as the most important people in their baby’s life. The feedback that families give us is that it isn’t just their baby that receives care, they all feel looked after at a time when they need it the most. The team does everything that they can to give families the best start in life. That’s worth celebrating and I’m immensely proud of what we have achieved in our journey to get here. We would also like to share thanks to Glasgow Children’s Charity for its support and contribution,” said Gillian.
Janet Dalzell, Professional Lead for Scotland, UNICEF UK Baby Initiative explained why this recognition is significant.
“These two units have created an environment where every team member is involved in providing the best possible care for babies and their wider families. Their operations and strategies have clear governance and reporting into the NHS Board and the Baby Friendly Guardian supports this overall process. All of this has ensured that there is a clear path that they have taken to achieve their Gold status and this has been supported by working collaboratively across the multidisciplinary team in partnership with mothers and families.
“All staff members should be proud and acknowledge that their hard work goes further than the family’s time in hospital. The teams should never underestimate the importance that they have made on the lives of families,” she said.
Minister for Public Health, Jenni Minto also applauded the award.
“I am delighted that two NHS Glasgow and Greater Clyde neonatal units have been recognised by UNICEF UK for the quality of care for new parents and their babies.
“All staff members should be immensely proud that their hard work and commitment makes such an incredible difference to the lives of babies and their families by putting them at the centre of maternity and neonatal care,” said Jenni.
More information on Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children and the Princess Royal Maternity units can be found at www.nhsggc.org.uk
