Hounslow health services achieve top-level UNICEF Baby Friendly accreditation

Hounslow’s health visiting teams, family hubs and children’s centres have been granted the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Stage 3 accreditation, the programme’s top tier, confirming that local services meet the highest standards for infant care.

The Baby Friendly Initiative, launched by UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, provides a framework for health providers worldwide to improve and sustain quality care for mothers and babies. In the United Kingdom the scheme collaborates with public agencies to promote breastfeeding, ensure safe bottle feeding and reinforce the bond between parent and child.

Achieving Stage 3 means that evidence-based practices supporting parent-baby relationships and infant feeding have been woven into routine operations across Hounslow’s services. The council says families are now benefiting from first-class care in health visiting, family hubs and children’s centres as a direct outcome of the accreditation.

Sarah Harris, Infant Feed Lead at West London NHS Trust, commented that the award reflects the dedication and expertise of the staff who deliver high-quality care each day. She added that meeting national standards is important, but the real impact lies in the positive difference made to children, young people and their families.

Councillor Lily Bath, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, expressed delight at the recognition, noting that the council’s public health team works closely with NHS partners to provide services that meet the needs of parents and children. She highlighted that supporting feeding mothers remains a core public-health priority for Hounslow.

Breastfeeding rates rise

Local infant feeding support services and a network of Baby Feeding Friendly venues have contributed to a rise in breastfeeding prevalence from 43 % to 61 % over the past three years.