Free family events for World Breastfeeding Week

Date of release: 23 July 2024

Acute staff are being encouraged to refer patients with learning disabilities to the Virtual Ward.

Virtual Ward staff have been working with Elaine Wharton, the Trust’s Learning Disability Nurse, to discuss using the Virtual Ward to support the early recognition of deterioration in this group of patients post discharge.

Colleagues are also looking at supporting carers to refer these patients back into community via the Rapid Intervention Team within Community Urgent Care and Virtual Ward’s ‘think community first’ initiative. This is where all options are explored to keep patients in a place they like to call home, including delivery of acute care at home.

Becky Currie, Matron, Virtual Ward and Paediatric Virtual Ward/Hospital @ Home, said: “We would encourage early transfer to the Virtual Ward to continue acute care at home.

“However we encourage staff with any patient with a learning disability and autism “flag” on portal to refer them to Virtual Ward as part of their discharge.

“We have worked with the team to ensure staff are able to work effectively with this group of patients and have developed non-verbal cue cards and specially designBlack country mums-to-be and new parents can pick up a breastfeeding advice as well as try pregnancy yoga and find out about antenatal support at two free events in Walsall and Wolverhampton next month.

To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August 2024), two sessions are being held in partnership with The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, Walsall Council and City of Wolverhampton Council.

There will be breastfeeding support available alongside a range of ‘have a go’ activities such as pregnancy and baby yoga, baby massage, sling safety and access to antenatal support.

The first event will take place on Monday 5 August 2024, 1pm-3pm, at Graiseley Family Hub, WV2 4NE.

The second is taking place on Tuesday 6 August 2024, 10am-2pm at Nash Dom Community Hub, Sun Street, Walsall, WS1 4AL.

Poppy Davies, Breastfeeding Support Co-ordinator at RWT said: “The UK has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, with studies showing that 90 per cent of UK women stop breastfeeding before they want to.

“We know how difficult it can be though, especially in the early days of breastfeeding, so we hope that parents will come along to find out more about feeding their babies and see what support is on offer for them.

“This way they can feel more prepared to overcome any feeding challenges that may arise when their baby arrives.”

Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing at Walsall Council, said: “We are delighted to be working with our Family Hubs and NHS colleagues to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week and the immense benefits that breastfeeding offers to families and their babies.

“Breastfeeding provides essential nutrients for a healthy start in life, reducing the risk of infections and illnesses. Improving infant feeding is critical as every child in Walsall deserves the best possible start in life as set out in our We Are Walsall 2040 borough plan.

“We are committed to supporting families and recognise the positive impact breastfeeding has on our community.”

The free, drop-in celebratory events are aimed at parents with young children, new parents, mums-to-be, and their families. For further information, please email: rwh-tr.infantfeedingteam@nhs.net or walsallinfant.feeding@nhs.net.