Peer Support Recommendations

Breastfeeding rates in the UK are among the lowest in Europe. In August 2008 the UK Government pledged an extra £2 million to help hospitals in low-income areas increase breastfeeding rates and achieve UNICEF Baby Friendly status.

On the 13th November 2008 the Department of Health invited 50 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to bid for funding from the Department’s Inequalities Initiative to raise breastfeeding numbers and rates in their local area by implementing Baby Friendly Initiative practices. Read more

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance recommends a peer support programme for women who breastfeed. These should be commissioned only as part of a breastfeeding strategy. Read more

The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) are committed to helping increase breastfeeding rates and have for the past few years been offering peer support programmes.

To read more about commissioning a peer support programme see the NICE website

Find out more about BfN peer support programmes and training