UHDB joins Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) have marked World Breastfeeding Week 2025 by becoming a 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' venue - one of several positive steps helping ensure parents feel comfortable and supported when feeding their babies at our hospitals.
The Breastfeeding Welcome Here initiative was launched by Derby City Council >, empowering people to feel more confident breastfeeding in public. UHDB have signed up to the scheme and will be displaying 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' stickers at our sites, to show families who are breastfeeding that they can feel confident and well-supported in doing so at our hospitals.
This year's World Breastfeeding Week (1 - 7 August 2025) has been focused around creating a sustainable support system for breastfeeding, and in addition to the public-facing council scheme which shows this commitment, there are additional ongoing improvement projects across our Trust aimed at supporting colleagues and improving the experience for those who are returning to work and looking to breastfeed - as well as services that are already in place, such as lockboxes that can be loaned out for individuals to safely store expressed milk in staff fridges while at work.
Katy Thompson, Lead Specialist Midwife - Infant Feeding, said: "UHDB are committed to working within UNICEF UK's Baby Friendly Initiative standards to support families, colleagues and visitors to our Trust with infant feeding and developing close and loving relationships, so that all babies get the best possible start in life.
"We support around 8,000 families to birth inside our hospitals every year, and are one of the largest employers in Derby, so we are proud to be part of the Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme to clearly promote our hospitals as a safe, comfortable place for infant feeding.
On the positive impact that the Breastfeeding Welcome Here accreditation could provide at UHDB, Garry Marsh, Executive Chief Nurse, said: "Across our hospitals, we strive to provide supportive and inclusive environments for all patients, visitors and colleagues - and we are pleased that receiving this Breastfeeding Welcome Here accreditation can help ensure parents feel comfortable and supported when feeding their babies here."
Councillor Alison Martin, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Care, added: "It's fantastic to see 70 public places across Derby now proudly displaying the Breastfeeding Welcome Here award, with University Hospitals of Derby and Burton being the latest to join. This scheme is all about creating a supportive and welcoming environment for breastfeeding women, ensuring mums feel confident and comfortable feeding their babies, wherever they are in our city."
You can find out more about the Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme with this video >.