Publish date: 9 December 2025
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals has been recognised for the quality of its support for mothers and families after receiving a national accreditation.
The Trust’s Health Visiting service, Maternity and Neonatal unit, in partnership with Blackpool Family Hubs, have recently been reassessed by UNICEF’s Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) and successfully awarded Stage 2 accreditation.
Stage 2 accreditation is granted when a service demonstrates that all staff have received role-specific education and training and met standards of delivery equipping them to provide effective care and support for mothers and families.
Vicky Watson, Infant Feeding Specialist for Health Visiting at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, said: “Since joining the programme, we’ve seen a 10% increase in breastfeeding rates in Blackpool. This reflects our shared vision for delivering high-quality, family-centred care. We remain committed to helping parents build strong bonds with their babies and ensuring feeding support is tailored to individual needs.”
Stacie Wenman, Infant Feeding Specialist Sister in the hospital’s Neonatal Unit, highlighted: “We delivered a training programme focused on neonatal standards for our team. Their engagement and commitment have been key to achieving Stage 2 Baby Friendly accreditation.”
Shel Banks, Baby Friendly Co-ordinator for the Trust added: “I am delighted that all of Blackpool’s services have achieved Stage 2 of this accreditation. As a locality, we have been working closely together to ensure that families in Blackpool and across the Fylde Coast receive consistently good information and support to meet their infant feeding goals. Our staff have come together to improve skills and knowledge for the benefit of families.”
Regina Mitchell, Infant Feeding Specialist Midwife added: “Part of our work has been promoting the skin-to-skin delivery standard, meaning that all women and families who come through our service are offered skin to skin, which is routine at Blackpool. This is good for baby to help regulate temperature, heart rate and breathing.”
“During the antenatal period families can access an infant feeding antenatal workshop, and breast and infant feeding support is also available through our service.”
Cllr Jim Hobson, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, added: “BFI accreditation fosters a culture of support across healthcare settings, early years services and public health programmes – empowering parents with informed choices, reducing health inequalities and strengthens trust in local services.”
These services will now work towards Stage Three—the full accreditation—which will be assessed in 12 months’ time.
