Countess of Chester Hospital Milk Bank celebrates record-breaking year of success

The NHS Milk Bank at Chester is celebrating a remarkable year of achievements as the team behind this service within the Countess of Chester Hospital enters the typically challenging winter season in a strong and prepared position.

Whilst the winter months are often marked by supply and demand challenges – including colder weather grounding volunteer blood bikers and reduced donor activity during the busy festive period – it’s a different story this year: The Milk Bank at Chester freezers are well stocked ahead of the upcoming festive season, with more than 300 litres of pasteurised donor milk ready for dispatch.  

Thanks to the dedication of donors, volunteers and the milk bank team, staff are now well prepared to meet anticipated winter demand from neonatal units for donated milk across the North of England and North Wales, as well as the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Cardiff.  

The strong winter position comes after a busy and successful year for The Milk Bank at Chester.  

In September, the Milk Bank opened its sixth hub – and the first in North Wales. This hub ensures efficient milk dispatch to every neonatal unit in the region within a 49-mile radius, whilst also supporting the team’s commitment to reducing their carbon footprint by cutting down on road miles for each hospital delivery. 

Meanwhile, earlier this year, the second unpasteurised hub opened in Preston, supported by the North West Blood Bikes (Lancs & Lakes), following the success of Lauren’s Hub in the East Midlands.

Operated by East Midlands Freewheelers, this hub can store up to 100 litres of unpasteurised milk for local collections before transporting to Chester in batches, saving thousands of biker miles and reducing their carbon footprint towards a greener NHS. 

New initiatives have also been launched this year to enable the team to expand their knowledge and skills to offer maximum support to families who donate, as well as those who benefit from milk donations. 

These include lunch-and-learn sessions and a lactation and loss learning course for hospital staff across the UK who provide care to women and birthing people; which has strengthened ties with neonatal units across the region by meeting educational needs and increasing awareness, meaning more families are supported with informed choice when it comes to accessing donor milk or becoming donors. 

Laura Atherton, Milk Bank Operational Manager at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said 2024 has been an ‘incredible year’ for the Milk Bank: 

“We have had such an amazing year. From expanding our hubs to increasing donations and streamlining our processes, we’ve made huge strides in supporting neonatal care across the region.  

“Thanks to our amazing donors, bikers and staff, we are in the strongest position we’ve ever been in as we head into winter and it’s humbling to know we are making a real difference for families and vulnerable babies.”

The Milk Bank at Chester is at the heart of the Trust’s renewed efforts to be the hospital of choice for women, children and their families and forms part of wider plans over the next five years to transform services across the Trust to ensure outstanding care for all.

Pictured - The Milk Bank Team.