Breastmilk Provision for Preterm and Sick Neonates e-learning programme launched

Health Education England (HEE) has worked in partnership with the Thames Valley and Wessex Neonatal Operational Delivery Network, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, University Southampton Hospitals, Oxford University Hospitals and HEE elearning for healthcare (elfh) to develop a learning resource to improve education and training of all relevant staff in the support of breast milk provision for preterm and sick infants.

The elearning programme will also enable healthcare professionals to improve breastmilk provision rates at discharge from neonatal units.

The content is suitable for all professionals who work to support to improving breastmilk provision including:

• Nurses and healthcare assistants
• Midwives and maternity healthcare support workers
• Medical trainees
• All medical staff

This resource can be used as a preparatory learning experience and can also be used for performance support by healthcare professionals. The content is split into four main sections:

1. After delivery – what the healthcare professional should know and help the mother to understand before she starts expressing breastmilk

2. Starting to express – how to support a mother practically and emotionally as she begins to express

3. Increasing milk supply – how to support mothers to maintain and increase their breastmilk supply

4. Resources – access to a set of useful job aids and reference tools.

The elearning programme is available to access for free via the elfh Hub and the Electronic Staff Record.

For more information about the elearning programme and details on how to access the programme visit: https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/breastmilk-provision-for-preterm-and-sick-neonates/