Hampshire County Council have announced new funding for Basingstoke breastfeeding groups after the future of the support was brought into question as a result of changes in the responsibilities for local health visiting services.
Local MP Maria Miller said:
“Establishing successful breast feeding can be one of the toughest challenges any new mum faces. When I visited one of the local groups in Brookvale Village Hall I spoke to mums who had benefited from the Hampshire Breastfeeding Counselling drop-in service. The breast feeding counsellors are trained professionals and have the time and experience to support mums.
"Our Local Councillors have acted swiftly to help assure the future of this important service. They have listened and acted.
“It is very important that mothers have the right advice and support at this crucial stage in their child’s development."
County Councillor Elaine Still met the Hampshire Breast Feeding Counsellors earlier this month and asked for an urgent review by the County Council after seeing the importance of the service first hand and the need to safeguard it.
Elaine said, “After meeting the Counsellors and mothers using the service I asked for an urgent review. Last week a meeting was held to review the situation at Hampshire County Council with the Executive Member for Public Health together with Breastfeeding Counsellors to discuss continuing Breastfeeding support in Basingstoke. I am very pleased to report the outcome of the meeting was a positive one.
“Hampshire County Council will be working with health visitors, maternity services and local breastfeeding support services to identify a sustainable future service model. To allow this to happen the current service availability will be maintained for the remainder of the financial year. It was also agreed to establish a small working group to include breastfeeding counsellors to help identify a sustainable future model of support for women to breastfeed across all of Hampshire.”