The Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) has been reaccredited with UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Gold status for the support offered by the trust to parents and babies in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

The Trust's Families Health & Wellbeing Service (0-19) in Staffordshire and the Integrated 0-19 Health Visiting and School Nursing Service in Stoke-on-Trent have maintained Gold status for five consecutive years.

Inspectors were very impressed by the care being delivered and said: "We are delighted to see the quality of work that is being implemented by the service and the positive outcomes being achieved as a result."

The services provide support from pregnancy until a child is 19 and have been accredited by UNICEF for almost 16 years.

Gold status first became available in 2021 and according to the trust "celebrates excellent and sustained practice in the support of baby feeding and parent-baby relationships."

Jo Reynolds, Infant Feeding Lead (County) at MPFT, said: "I am proud that our service continues to maintain Gold accreditation with the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative. 

"Sustaining this standard places MPFT amongst a small number of community trusts nationally who have achieved and maintained Gold status, reflecting the ongoing commitment of our staff to delivering high-quality infant feeding support for families."

Lorraine Frith, Infant Feeding Lead (City) added: "I echo Jo's sentiment; I am so proud that our service has maintained Gold accreditation for the fifth year running.

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 "It reflects the hard work and the quality of care that the 0-19 service provides to children and families in our local communities."

Led by the World Health Organisation and United Nations Children's Fund, The UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative is a global campaign aiming to encourage outstanding practice in the health service and wider community children's services.

Maintaining this high standard is vital to ensure that breastfeeding is successful.

Claire Bailey, Managing Director of MPFT's Children and Families services said: "This is a fantastic achievement and is testament to the dedication, professionalism, and compassion shown by our staff every day. 

"Their hard work, expertise, and unwavering focus in providing support to our families has been central to reaching this milestone." 

 Header image via Jonathan Hutchins on Geograph