In the absence of any proposed regulation for Milk Banks, UKAMB has established a process of self accreditation. This provides a minimum standard as set by UKAMB and has been initiated to give an assurance of good practice to recipient hospitals. Milk Banks that meet the standards will be called “UKAMB Accredited Milk Banks”.
Where a Milk Bank has satellite units the main milk bank will be responsible for ensuring that all relevant criteria are met by the satellite units. A satellite milk bank is one which recruits and screens donors but sends donor breastmilk to the main milk bank for testing and processing.
Accreditation Criteria include categories on the recruitment of donors including their health history and lifestyle and serology screening. Record keeping, bacteriology (pre and post pasteurisation) and the processing of milk are also part of the accreditation process. Finally the storage and handling of donor milk, the maintenance of equipment and staff checks are addressed.
The Milk Bank Manager and the Medical Director or Senior Clinician with responsibility for the Milk Bank are the required signatories to the self accreditation form.
A number of milk banks meet the criteria with the exception of having the facilities to archive samples of breastmilk at minus 70 degrees C. It is hoped that centralised facilities may become available to allow these milk banks to fulfil the self accreditation criteria.
UKAMB Self Accredited Milk Banks are listed below.
St Peter’s Hospital Milk Bank, Chertsey
Chester and North Wales Milk Bank
Medway Maritime Milk Bank, Gillingham
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Milk Bank
Irvinestown Milk Bank, Co. Fermanagh
Princess Anne Milk Bank, Southampton
Wirral Milk Bank
Queen Charlotte's Hospital Milk Bank
Following the publication of the NICE guideline for Milk Banks (expected in February 2010), UKAMB will reassess the self-accreditation criteria and introduce a new self-accreditation scheme. |
