Breastfeeding assessment form developed by The Dudley Group of Hospitals and NHS Dudley.

The aim of the survey was to establish what the NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary Sector (NGOs) think about the Department of Health West Midlands Infant Feeding Programme plus the support and capability building activities they have received since January 2008 when the WMIFCN was restructured.

This paper puts the case for rolling out universal vitamin D supplementation to the whole of Birmingham for women during pregnancy and up until their child is 12 months old, and to all children under 4 years old, using the Department of Health-issued Healthy Start supplements. The case for this is the relatively high number of cases of rickets and hypocalcaemic fits in Birmingham children due to vitamin D deficiency, and the cost of treating them. This paper does not deal with vitamin D deficiency secondary to liver, renal or gastrointestinal disorders.

This pilot project was carried out across the West Midlands for the West Midlands Public Health Observatory on behalf of the Department of Health. Twelve Start4Life training sessions were held over six days in 6 different locations, including Walsall, Nuneaton, Lichfield, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Redditch. Most areas where the training sessions took place are currently working towards UNICEF Baby Friendly accreditation.