From left to right: Caroline Wade MBE, Director of HR and Operations Baby Friendly Guardian; Councillor Carol Hart, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities; Denise Pemberton, Frenulotomy Lead Midwife; Jenny Godfrey, Public Health Derbyshire County Council; Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive; Siobhan Almond, Infant Feeding and Wellbeing Lead Midwife; Dotty Watkins, Interim Director of Midwifery; Aimee Leatherday, Infant Feeding Lead; and Mahmud Nawaz Chair.
The award aims to make parents feel confident and comfortable to breast feed in public, and feel reassured that they are welcome and supported to do so.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Chesterfield Royal Hospital on board.
“We know how important it is to ensure that breastfeeding parents feel safe and encouraged to feed their children in public.
“We hope that lots more Derbyshire businesses will sign up to the Breastfeeding Welcome Here Award.”
Having a breastfeeding-friendly venue can help families to feel confident to breastfeed in public. This is not only good for families, but great for businesses too.
We have been running Breastfeeding Welcome Here Award since 2014 and more than 279 Derbyshire venues are signed up.
There are a wide of organisations signed up including leisure centres, cafés, restaurants, pharmacies, soft play centres and tourist attractions.
Dotty Watkins, Interim Director of Midwifery, added:
"I am delighted beyond measure that Chesterfield Royal Hospital has been awarded the ‘Breastfeeding Welcome Here’ award from Derbyshire County Council.”
Organisations who sign up to scheme are added to Derbyshire Community Health Service’s Breastfeeding Welcome online directory and are also included on a searchable online interactive map.
To receive the Breastfeeding Welcome Here Award an organisation or venue must:
- agree to train their staff to support breastfeeding on the premises
- agree to display signs to show that breastfeeding is welcome
- have a hygiene rating of 3 or above (if applicable)
The scheme is free for venues to join.