MEDICASH ANNOUNCES INFANT FEEDING PARTNERSHIP WITH ALDER HEY

Medicash is proud to announce a new partnership with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital as part of its £2.1 million initiative to support NHS hospitals across the North West.

This significant grant from the Medicash Foundation, the charitable arm of the UK’s largest provider of corporate health cash plans, will fund a crucial nursing post focused on infant feeding for the next four years, supporting Alder Hey’s pioneering work in child health and development.

The funded role will play a vital part in the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI), a global programme in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organisation that promotes breastfeeding and close parental bonding. Originally designed to support families and babies in their first days and weeks of life, particularly those accessing neonatal care, Alder Hey is adapting the BFI standards for older babies and infants in its services, aiming to provide enhanced feeding support for families. This initiative will enable the hospital to pilot and implement these adapted standards, creating a lasting positive impact on local families.

Nathan Askew, Chief Nurse at Alder Hey, said: “All children deserve the best start in life, and research shows the crucial role breastfeeding plays in providing essential nutrition, supporting the immune system, and strengthening parental bonds.”

Breastfeeding rates in the UK remain below the European average, with Liverpool falling short of the national average. Alder Hey’s pilot programme aims to address these disparities, positively influencing local breastfeeding practices through specialist support.

Sue Weir, Chief Executive of Medicash and Medicash Foundation Trustee added: “We are excited to be involved in such an important project, that will have a real and positive impact on the lives of future generations in Liverpool and beyond. I’m delighted that as a business we are able to fund such important projects and witness the incredible impact they have within both their local communities and further afield.”

This partnership exemplifies how businesses and charities can collaborate to address pressing health challenges, with benefits that extend beyond immediate outcomes. By investing in local projects, companies like Medicash help shape a healthier future for the region, and hopefully inspire other businesses to engage in meaningful corporate social responsibility efforts.

As the initiative unfolds, the collaboration between Medicash and Alder Hey Children’s Charity will not only benefit families in the present but also lay the groundwork for improved healthcare practices across the region, nurturing a legacy of wellbeing for generations to come.