Kingston Hospital's Neonatal Unit has been accredited as 'Baby Friendly' by the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) for excellent practice in the support of infant feeding and parent-infant relationships.

The Baby Friendly Initiative is a global programme which aims to transform healthcare for babies, their mothers and families as part of a wider global partnership between UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).

In the UK, the Baby Friendly Initiative works with public services to better support families with feeding and developing close, loving relationships in order to ensure that all babies get the best possible start in life. 

The award was given after an assessment by UNICEF UK recognised best practice within the Neonatal Unit. This involved writing guidelines, training and auditing all staff, as well as asking parents about their experiences on the Neonatal Unit to ensure UNICEF Baby Friendly standards were being met.

The prestigious award was unveiled in June, with a celebration event involving Neonatal Unit staff, and families who had received care from the team.

In September 2021, Kingston Hospital's Maternity Unit was also accredited by UNICEF UK as 'Baby Friendly'.

Kingston Hospital's Director of Midwifery, Marion Louki, said: "This award reflects the ongoing commitment of our teams on the Neonatal Unit who are passionate about supporting all parents and their babies to form close relationships, whatever their chosen method of feeding.

"We are proud to now be accredited as Baby Friendly in both our Maternity Unit and Neonatal Unit at Kingston Hospital – congratulations to our staff for this fantastic achievement."