More mothers to get 24/7 access to breastfeeding support
Breastfeeding can take time to establish, with some mothers worrying if their baby is feeding well enough, particularly in the days after birth.
Public health minister Ashley Dalton said: 'Many parents will know the struggle of being up in the middle of the night, desperately trying anything to get your baby to feed.
'It can be incredibly overwhelming and deeply lonely.
'We are determined to make sure more women get the support they need through this vital 24/7 helpline.'
Data published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) in November shows the prevalence of breastfeeding at six to eight weeks in England increased to 52.7% in 2023-24 compared with 49.2% in 2022-23.
At the time, OHID said breastfeeding rates 'are generally improving at local level in England'.
However, there are disparities, with women in wealthier areas more likely to breastfeed than those in more deprived areas.
Catherine Hine, chief executive of The Breastfeeding Network – which runs the helpline alongside the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, said: 'While some callers seek help for a wider range of infant feeding challenges, we know that almost nine in 10 (89%) of callers are more confident to continue breastfeeding after contacting the helpline.
'Many women also call to talk about combination feeding, introducing solids, stopping breastfeeding and formula feeding.
'We're really excited that shifting to a 24-hour service has been so popular and that our great team are being contacted by women and families throughout the UK and with a wide variety of backgrounds and infant feeding experiences.'
Minister for children and families Janet Daby said extending the helpline for 2025/26 is 'just one part of a much bigger effort to transform how families are supported'.
The move forms part of wider reforms of family services, backed by £126 million in funding that will support the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.
This includes £18.5 million to improve infant feeding across 75 local authorities in England.
Ms Dalton added: 'Through our Plan for Change, we're going further to ensure every child gets the best start in life.
'We've provided extra funding for local infant feeding services through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, where parents can access drop-in sessions for practical and emotional support.'
Earlier this month, the Government also announced there will be a Best Start family hub in every local authority in England by April 2026, with £500 million targeted at disadvantaged communities.
The service has been described as a 'one-stop shop' for families with children from pregnancy through to early years and beyond.
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World-first gonorrhoea vaccine rolled out by NHS today to tackle surging STI levels – are you eligible?
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Patients will receive an existing jab - the 4CMenB vaccine for meningitis B - which has been found to nearly halve the chances of catching gonorrhoea in adults. The jab is already routinely given to babies to protect them from MenB, but its protection wears off as they grow up. Vaccination could also head off growing concerns about superbug versions of the infection, which are resistant to antibiotics. Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS national director for primary care and community services, said: "This vaccine is already used to protect against Men B and is proven to be effective against gonorrhoea, preventing the spread of infection and reducing the rising rates of antibiotic-resistant strains." Minister for Public Health and Prevention Ashley Dalton added: "Rolling out this world-leading gonorrhoea vaccination programme in sexual health clinics in England represents a major breakthrough in preventing an infection that has reached record levels. 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Who will be elligible for the jab? NHS England said clinics will target the highest risk people for its gonorrhoea vaccine campaign. From August vaccines will be offered to: Gay or bisexual men who have recently had multiple sexual partners Gay or bisexual men who have recently been diagnosed with an STI Transgender women or non-binary people who were born male Clinics may use their discretion to offer to sex workers or anyone who has recently had a bacterial STI Data from 2023 show that 40,586 out of England's total 85,223 gonorrhoea cases were among men who had sex with men, making them the highest risk group. A further 15,000 were among heterosexual men and 22,000 were among women. But in some cases this isn't effective, as the bacteria has developed the ability to survive and multiply even when exposed to the antibiotic. Since first being detected in England in 2015, 42 cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea have been reported. 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Don't put it off and regret it later." Along with protecting thousands of people from the STI, health chiefs say the scheme will save the NHS more than £7.9 million over the next decade. Gonorrhoea is an STI that's passed on through unprotected sex. Many people do not have any symptoms but if it is left untreated it can spread and lead to infertility. Getting the STI during pregnancy can increase your risk of premature birth and your baby having a low birth weight. There's also a risk the infection could spread to your baby's eyes during birth, which causes blindness if it's not treated with antibiotics.
The Sun
a day ago
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Cases in England topped 85,000 the highest since records began in 1918 A vaccine for gonorrhoea is now available at sexual health clinics in England as part of a world-first scheme. The vaccination programme is expected to save the NHS £7.9 million over the next decade and combat increasing levels of antibiotic-resistant strains of the disease. The move aims to tackle rising levels of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) after cases in England topped 85,000 in 2023, the highest since records began in 1918. The free jab will be on offer from Monday to patients at the highest risk of the sexually transmitted infection, including gay and bisexual men with a recent history of multiple sexual partners or a bacterial STI. The vaccine is an existing jab, known as 4CMenB, that is currently used to protect people against the meningococcal B disease, a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and sepsis. It is used in the routine childhood programme and given to babies at eight weeks, 16 weeks and one year. The programme is targeted to those most at risk and could prevent up to 100,000 cases. Gonorrhoea disproportionately impacts specific communities, such as those in deprived areas, people of black Caribbean ethnicity, and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, according to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Patients getting the gonorrhoea vaccine will also be offered jabs for mpox, human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis A and B at their appointment. Ashley Dalton, the minister for public health and prevention, said: 'Rolling out this world-leading gonorrhoea vaccination programme in sexual health clinics in England represents a major breakthrough in preventing an infection that has reached record levels. 'This government's world-first vaccination programme will help turn the tide on infections, as well as tackling head-on the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. 'I strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to come forward for vaccination, to protect not only yourselves but also your sexual partners.' Consultant Epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, Dr Sema Mandal said: "This roll out is hugely welcome as we're currently seeing very concerning numbers of gonorrhoea, including even more worryingly antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea. The vaccine will give much needed protection to those that need it most - making the UK a world leader in the fight against gonorrhoea. "And it's excellent to see that at the same time other important vaccines will continue to be offered in sexual health services to those eligible, protecting against mpox, hepatitis A and B, and HPV. Sexually transmitted infections aren't just an inconvenience – they can have a major impact on your health and your sexual partners, so if offered I strongly urge you to get these jabs, you'll be protecting yourself as well as others. Don't put it off and regret it later." What are the symptoms of gonorrhoea? According to the NHS, typical symptoms of gonorrhoea include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, and pain when urinating. In women, it can present as bleeding between periods. However, around one in 10 infected men and almost half of infected women do not experience any symptoms - meaning it's important to get tested if you've had unprotected sex. You can visit your local sexual health clinic to have a test, where a professional will perform a quick, painless test with a swab.
