The Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Mims Davies, will this week be celebrating with members of the local NHS team behind the ICON Preventative Programme which has won the regional award for ‘Excellence in Primary Care’ at the NHS Parliamentary Awards, and is now in the final to win the same award nationally.
The ICON Preventative Programme supports parents to cope with a crying baby, reducing the risk of Abusive Head Trauma. An inability to cope with a crying baby is one of the key reasons that caregivers can lose control and shake a baby, causing lasting damage or death.
Commenting, Eastleigh MP Mims Davies said:
“The ICON programme is of particular relevance to the Eastleigh area with all of the Health Visitors and Midwives in the Eastleigh area providing the ICON information to parents and carers both in the antenatal and postnatal period. GP’s in our area have also been trained to deliver the message and enquire with parents how they are coping.
“I was therefore absolutely delighted as Eastleigh’s local MP to nominate the team behind the Programme for this award, and so pleased when I heard that their work on this key issue had been recognised as a regional winner. I absolutely look forward to celebrating with them on Wednesday and will be backing them fully in the national competition!”
Kim Jones, Designated Nurse Safeguarding Children for NHS West Hampshire CCG said:
“We are over the moon to be recognised for such a simple but powerful campaign
“Over a relatively short time-span we have managed to make a real difference in safeguarding our next generation. It’s really heartening, and we’ve had a lot of interest in the ICON programme from NHS services elsewhere in the country.”
This programme has been delivered in partnership with Hampshire Safeguarding Children's Board.
The word ‘ICON’ represents the following message:
• I – Infant crying is normal
• C – Comforting methods can sometimes soothe the baby
• O – It’s OK to walk away
• N – Never, ever shake a baby
The ICON Programme incorporates these messages through a series of touch point interventions across a range of NHS services for children and families. It also incorporates a simple ‘safe sleep’ message.