Popular television star, Emma Willis, took time to make a trip to Good Hope Hospital to present the midwifery team with the UNICEF Baby Friendly Award.

The team were reaccredited for their excellent support with breastfeeding for local mums. Meeting the standards of an assessment and being reaccredited shows that the team continues to provide parents with the best possible care to build close and loving relationships with their baby and to feed them in ways which will support optimum health and development.

As a mum of three – Isabelle, Ace and Trixie – Emma has a personal fondness for Good Hope, having grown up in Sutton Coldfield and herself received valuable advice and support from the hospital’s midwives.  She spent time chatting with staff, new mums and families and meeting newborns.

Emma said: “Good Hope Hospital has been in my life forever – I was born here, my sister gave birth here, my parents worked here and I’ve received advice about feeding my daughter from infant feeding co-ordinator Jackie Scott. I’m over the moon that the team have got this award again.”

Jackie said: “It’s such a pleasure for us to receive this prestigious award. We are all passionate about supporting mums with their feeding choices. I would like to thank Emma for presenting the award to the team, she is a role model for young mums and her support for the hospital is greatly appreciated.”

Maggie Coleman, matron for Maternity Clinical Services added: “I’m very proud of the teamwork throughout the Maternity Unit that ensured we gained reaccreditation and continue to make sure that women have an informed choice when deciding how to feed their baby.”