MIDWIFERY courses at Oxford Brookes University have been commended for an ‘outstanding programme of study’ in a recent assessment of Unicef UK Baby Friendly standards.

The Baby Friendly Initiative is a worldwide programme of the World Health Organisation and Unicef.

First introduced in 1992 it encourages hospitals, community health services and university courses to support breastfeeding and parent-infant relationships.

Brookes first received accreditation in 2011 and re-assessment was carried out across the university’s MSc and BSc Midwifery degree programmes, and MSc and BSc for registered nurses.

A sample of students were assessed on their knowledge and skills across five themes, including enabling mothers to breastfeed and being able to manage the challenges of breastfeeding, and achieved 100 per cent across all five areas.

Oxford Brookes midwifery lead Sarah Snow said: “We are incredibly proud to have achieved re-accreditation for the Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative. To have done so with such success is a testament not only to the excellent, evidence-based teaching we provide but our well-prepared, competent and confident students.”