ROYAL Cornwall Hospital’s neonatal unit has been awarded a three-year grant from UNICEF, one of only six hospitals in the UK to receive the funding.

The grant comes from the UK Baby Friendly Initiative, launched by UNICEF and funded by the Burdett Trust. More than half of all neonatal departments in the country applied for it, with Royal Cornwall Hospital among the successful recipients. The initiative was founded in recognition of the effect breastfeeding can have in helping to reduce illnesses in future years, such as respiratory problems, eczema, asthma, obesity and type one and two diabetes.

Each unit was asked to submit a personal statement, alongside letters of commitment from health professionals to support their application. Brian O’Neill, consultant in public health, was one of the people to support the personal statement, alongside Andrew Collinson, RCH's neonatal consultant, Real Baby Milk, who provide peer support services for the county, and other professionals within the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust (RCHT).

Dellen Prescott, senior staff nurse in the neonatal department, “We are thrilled to receive this grant. The funding will support staff training in meeting the new standards, helping the ward to be more family-centred and will go hand in hand with our improved facilities for parents.”

Currently, the neonatal unit is working towards the first stage of Baby Friendly neonatal accreditation and aiming, with the support of the funding, to achieve stage three accreditation by September, 2019.

“We have been working closely with our infant feeding coordinators, Helen Shanahan and Stephanie Heard, who work tirelessly to ensure parents get the best support possible in Cornwall,” added Dellen.

“Our neonatal nutrition group will be strengthened by the training UNICEF provide, which will empower and enable them to take on individual leads within the Project and to teach on the new study days.”

Thirteen neonatal units were shortlisted following the initial application and invited to London for interviews. Dellen, alongside one of the neonatal sisters, Helen Greenhill, attended the interview and gave the successful presentation. Dellen said: “We were absolutely delighted to be chosen; this grant will make a difference to the care we give to newborns and their families.”