1380 BABY BOXES DELIVERED ACROSS FIFE IN FIRST SIX MONTHS OF SCHEME

Published date : 15 Jan 2018

Latest figures from the Scottish Government have revealed that the transformative Baby Box policy has already benefitted 1380 newborns across NHS Fife since they were introduced last year – and over 22,000 across Scotland.

The Baby Box is a key part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to making Scotland the very best place in the world to grow up – and contains important items for parents and babies alike, such as baby clothes, a digital ear thermometer, a bath towel, a changing mat and books.

The box itself also doubles as a bed for a newborn, containing a mattress, mattress protector and fitted sheet – providing a safe and warm place for babies to sleep.

Commenting, Jenny Gilruth MSP for Mid Fife & Glenrothes said –

“It is excellent to see so many families across Fife benefitting from the Baby Box.

“The Boxes are a really positive Scottish Government initiative providing parents with many of the essentials they need to care for their child.

“From thermometers to towels, changing mats to clothes – the boxes are a fantastic way of giving children in Fife the very best start in life.

“That 1380 boxes have already been provided to parents across Fife, part of a total of over 22,000 across Scotland, shows how popular they are proving with parents in every corner of the country – and given how beneficial they are to parents and newborns, long may that continue.”

ENDS

Notes:

In response to a Parliamentary question, the Scottish Government revealed:

The following table details the number of Baby Boxes delivered, by Health Board between 19 June and 31 December 2017.

Health Board

Boxes Delivered

NHS Ayrshire and Arran

1350

NHS Borders

428

NHS Dumfries and Galloway

524

NHS Fife

1380

NHS Forth Valley

1132

NHS Grampian

2493

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

5621

NHS Highland

1028

NHS Lanarkshire

2378

NHS Lothian

3834

NHS Orkney

88

NHS Shetland

74

NHS Tayside

1587

NHS Western Isles

84

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