Health Visiting

Health Visiting is a universal service for children aged 0-5, their parents, carers and families to enable them to achieve optimum health and wellbeing.

Every child under five years has a named health visitor who is part of a wider health visiting team and is based in a local Health Centre or Children Centre. The name and contact details of your health visitor will be in the parent held record (red book). You can access your health visitor in this way or alternatively via your Children's Centre or GP surgery.

The members of the team include:

    * Health Visitors
    * Community Staff Nurses
    * Parenting Practitioners
    * Healthcare Support Workers

They offer information, guidance and support on issues such as:

    * parenting
    * breast feeding
    * child development
    * immunisation
    * isolation and depression
    * family conflict
    * healthy eating and lifestyle
    * quitting smoking
    * pregnancy and sexual health

Most services are offered to everyone.  However some children and families may need extra support to ensure that they are having their health needs met.    The teams work closely with parents, supporting them in their decisions regarding the care and development of their children.  They offer one to one family support and work with the family to agree the best level of input needed to support parents and carers to achieve the best health outcomes for their children.  Health visitors work throughout the community to prevent ill health and to promote healthy lifestyles. They also work with others involved in child care, like GPs, midwives, practise nurses, early years and education providers, social care and health and voluntary organisations.

Services are provided during the following hours:

Monday to Thursday 8:45am to 5:00pm
Friday 8:45am to 4:30pm

Evening clinics and home visits outside of these hours are arranged as required and Health Visitors can be contacted via your Children's Centre or GP surgery.