Princess Margaret Hospital accredited as Baby Friendly Hospital
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (October 24) that Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) has become the seventh public hospital to obtain the Baby Friendly Hospital accreditation. The hospital achieved a remarkable breastfeeding rate of over 80 per cent during the 2019 coronavirus outbreak.
 
     The Chairman of the HA Coordinating Committee in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G), Dr Au Yeung Kam-chuen, said, "The HA has pledged full support to breastfeeding. The eight public hospitals with O&G departments have been actively participating in the preparation for receiving Baby Friendly Hospital accreditation. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has posed extraordinary challenges to hospital services, the healthcare team has been impressively adaptable in response to the hurdles by making good use of information technology, aiming at building a breastfeeding-friendly environment through providing quality hospital services, training healthcare workers and organising breastfeeding promotional activities."
 
     PMH established a Breastfeeding Promotion Committee in 2010 and commenced its preparation for Baby Friendly Hospital accreditation in 2016. PMH has strengthened training to ensure staff have adequate knowledge and skills to promote breastfeeding through setting up a training curriculum and training programmes for staff at various positions and departments. The Committee and frontline medical staff also enhanced the education on colostrum feeding. The percentage of babies receiving colostrum within six hours after birth increased from 4.4 per cent in 2019 to 24.7 per cent in 2021.
 
     In addition, the Lactation Consultant Clinic strives to promote breastfeeding through a series of measures, such as helping women with breastfeeding problems through internationally certified lactation consultants. The Lactation Consultant Clinic works closely with surgical departments, the Accident and Emergency Department, neonatal units and physiotherapy to ensure that nursing mothers can receive the support needed. Furthermore, the Clinic implemented telehealth in May 2022 to provide services to mothers who cannot go to the Clinic due to the pandemic or other reasons.
 
     Apart from PMH, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, Kwong Wah Hospital, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital have already been accredited. 

Ends/Monday, October 24, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:45

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