NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s former Infant Feeding Lead, Theresa McElhone, is to receive an MBE for her services to families throughout the UK.
Theresa began her career within NHS Ayrshire & Arran as a midwife in early 1970s and was appointed as Infant Feeding lead in 1996. She provided support to countless women and their families in infant feeding and teaching parenting skills, as well as training staff in breastfeeding support to enable them to help women and babies experiencing more complex breastfeeding challenges.
In 1999, Theresa started working for UNICEF, while still employed by NHS Ayrshire & Arran. She helped Ayrshire Central Hospital to become the first large maternity hospital in Scotland to receive UNICEF’s ‘baby friendly status’. Since then, our maternity services have been re-accredited with the award on six occasions.
Nurse Director, Professor Hazel Borland added, “We couldn’t be happier for Theresa. This is a huge recognition and acknowledges the commitment, hard work and enthusiasm she has shown over the years, both within her role at NHS Ayrshire & Arran and with UNICEF.
“Our maternity services remain committed as ever to increasing breastfeeding rates throughout Ayrshire and Arran, both within our hospitals and throughout the community. The breastfeeding friendly initiative is just one example of our staff and volunteers’ dedication in this area. Staff from Ayrshire Maternity Unit provide the best possible standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and babies in Ayrshire and Arran.”