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Commissioning local breastfeeding support services

This commissioning guidance aims to assist commissioners and primary care trusts (PCTs) in providing coherent services that will promote breastfeeding and reduce inequalities, as set out in Healthy Lives, Brighter Futures: the strategy for children and young people’s health (Department for Children, Schools and Families and Department of Health, 2009, para 3.43), and to work with local Children’s Trust partners in delivering Public Service Agreement (PSA) 12.

It aims to:

• consolidate the case for breastfeeding care and support as an integral part of local strategies to improve child health and reduce health inequalities;
• signpost commissioners to sources of policy, practice and evidence; and
• set out some key considerations in relation to World Class Commissioning competencies within the three phases of the commissioning cycle.

It is recognised that commissioners will be operating in varied contexts - some will already have well-developed joint commissioning and Children’s Trust arrangements in place, while others will be at different stages of development.

This guidance has been developed with advice from a national steering group and structured input from a national stakeholder forum.

Breastfeeding is one of the top ten health outcomes most frequently prioritised by PCTs in their strategic plans.

• Download Commissioning local breastfeeding support services (PDF, 394K)
• Download Commissioning local breastfeeding support services - Equality Impact Assessment (PDF, 112K)