Baby bonding service launched

A SERVICE has been launched to help parents in Halton to bond with their babies.

NHS groups including the North West

Boroughs NHS Healthcare Foundation Trust (NWBH) have teamed up with Halton Borough Council and other organisations to plug a gap in making sure mums and dads can access parent-infant mental health services (PIMHS) so they can build trusting and supportive relationships.

A NWBH spokeswoman said the Parent Infant

Partnership UK found there are only 27 specialist PIMHS teams in the UK, meaning most babies are born in areas with no support.

She added that a 2019 identified two such services at NWBH as ‘rare jewels’ and among the few places in the UK to benefit.

NWBH is now building a PIMHS service for the region.

Dr Lisa Marsland, North West Coast Parent Infant Relationship Partnership chairwoman and NWBH’s lead for parent infant mental health, said: “It was fantastic to see the passion and enthusiasm that people have for parent-infant mental health and our mission to build bonds and break negative life cycles together.

“Moving forward, we are confident in reaching more vulnerable families and offering them the support they desperately need.

“A special thank you also goes to our expert by experience Marion, who bravely shared her story at the event.”

Carmel Doyle, public health development midwife, said: “Relationships are everything, especially for vulnerable families whose bonds have been broken. However, with the right support, we can help parents and infants to build the best possible bond and attachment relationship.”