Today, Mackenzie Health and The Regional Municipality of York celebrated the official launch of the new Breastfeeding Clinic at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, the first partnership of its kind in York Region.
Through the partnership, patients facing challenges with breastfeeding receive enhanced support and access to Certified Lactation Consultants and Registered Nurses to help them breastfeed their babies.
Following delivery of their baby, new mothers receive support while still in hospital to get the best start with breastfeeding. For those who, for various reasons, face challenges with breastfeeding, the new outpatient clinic offers a familiar environment and care team to support mothers in continuing breastfeeding after they go home.
The new partnership is a key element in providing ongoing support linkages. Once a mother and baby have established breastfeeding goals and the baby is thriving, they are often ready to move on to a community-based York Region Public Health clinic for ongoing support.
Opened in January 2015, the clinic is staffed by International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) staff from Mackenzie Health working alongside York Region Public Health Nurses. This new joint venture:
- provides free-of-charge breastfeeding support services in the Mackenzie Health Breast Feeding Clinic, six days a week (Monday to Saturday) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital,
- creates a seamless transition of breastfeeding and parenting support services between the hospital and community-based York Region Public Health Clinics, and
- helps raise awareness of parenting programs, services and resources available to new parents in their community through York Region Public Health.
This clinic is part of a coordinated effort by the two organizations to ensure new mothers receive the support they need in establishing successful breastfeeding and, where needed, access to additional healthcare services through a community Public Health Clinic.
Quotes:
“At Mackenzie Health we are committed to creating strategic partnerships to consistently improve care and access to services for our patients and families. This exciting new partnership is in keeping with Mackenzie Health’s vision to create a world-class health experience for our community.”
Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO, Mackenzie Health
“Joint public health and hospital initiatives such as the Mackenzie Health Breastfeeding Clinic will ensure families have the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully initiate breastfeeding, and continue to breastfeed as long as possible and desired. By joining forces, York Region and Mackenzie Health are ensuring a smooth transition of breastfeeding support services from hospital to home.”
Dr. Karim Kurji, Medical Officer of Health, York Region Public Health
“Being able to give my children the best start, including breastfeeding is very important to me.
I didn’t expect how challenging it can be. When my twins were born, I really appreciated the expertise of the team at the hospital and the hands-on care we received at Mackenzie Health and later at the York Region Public Health clinic to help support me in continuing to breastfeed them for as long as possible.”
Sarah Newitt, New mother and recipient of care in the Mackenzie Health Breastfeeding Clinic and York Region Public Health Breastfeeding Clinic
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