England lacks leadership in promoting breast-feeding, according to a damning report out today.
Leadership is missing, support services for new mothers have declined and more are under threat in most parts of the UK, according to the first analysis of breastfeeding in the UK by the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative.
The report shows that 88% of babies in the UK are bottle-fed at some point during their first year while the median duration of breast-feeding is just three months.
It is scathing about England where it finds hardly any national leadership or strategy.
It also warns there are no guidelines for emergency co-ordinators on supporting infant and young child feeding.
The findings were backed by the Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health.
Professor Russell Viner, from the college, said: “This time last year it was revealed that the UK had one of the worst breastfeeding rates in the world – a truly shocking revelation for an income rich country. But worse still, a year on and nothing has changed.
"The truth is, women are not getting the support they need in order to sustain breastfeeding over several months and this has a knock-on effect on child health. This lack of support is down to pressures on the workforce with healthcare professionals simply not having the time to spend with mothers following birth."
He added: “Putting it bluntly Government isn’t fulfilling its responsibility for baby feeding and unless it reverses cuts to public health budgets, specifically those impacting health visiting services, it is unlikely the UK will ever move from the bottom of the pack when it comes to breastfeeding and the nation’s health will suffer as a result.”
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