PGRH Lactation Consultation Services

To: Northern Health Authority Executives
Catherine Ulrich, President & Chief Executive Officer, Northern Health
Barry Cheal, VP. Corporate Services & Chief Financial Officer, Northern Health
Michael McMillan, Chief Operating Officer Northern Interior
Belinda Maidment, Manager, Maternal/Child Patient Care Services, PGRH

On average 267 births per month occur across the Northern Health Authority, approximately half of these occur in the Northern Interior Health Service Delivery Area.

WHEREAS: Breastfeeding gives babies the best possible start in life. The short and long term benefits of breastfeeding is well documented. The short and long term costs of not breastfeeding to the health care and social systems is estimated to be significant.

WHEREAS: Breastfeeding is natural but RARELY easy. A recent survey found that 61\% of mothers had wanted to breastfeed exclusively but only 51\% were exclusively nursing one week after the birth (Listening to Mothers II: Report of the Second National U.S. Survey of Women's Childbearing Experiences. New York: Childbirth Connection. October 2006. pp 1-9.). Mothers and infants benefit greatly from the assistance of highly experienced professionals to assist and encourage the continuation of breastfeeding.

WHEREAS: Lactation Consultation is a highly specialized field which conveys expertise from assisting thousands of mothers and infants throughout the breastfeeding experience. This expertise is NOT available elsewhere in the community.

WHEREAS: Lactation Consultants at PGRH are recognized as Regional Experts and provide support to clients and professionals (provincial nurses, federal nurses, public health nurses, midwives, doulas, family practice physicians, pediatricians and other physicians & specialists) across the Northern Health Authority. These services include:

(i) On-site service to Maternity, NICU and Pediatrics as well as supporting clients and staff in other areas of the hospital when needed;
(ii) Ambulatory care to post partum mothers and infants throughout their breastfeeding experience (ie. release to discontinuation of breastfeeding);
(iii) Educate Regional health professionals; and
(iv) Community outreach through the Breastfeeding Support Group, pre-natal classes, on-line resources and special events.

WHEREAS: A reduction in Lactation Consultation Services at PGRH will significantly diminish both the quality and supply of breastfeeding support across the Northern Health Authority.

We, as past, present and future residents of the Northern Health Authority, petition Executives of the Northern Health to reinstate funding to Lactation Consultation Services at Prince George Regional Hospital.