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NHS support from your midwife and health visitor
Support from your health visitor
Health visitors are qualified nurses or midwives that have completed further training to become specialist community public health nurses (SCPHN).
They specialise in supporting the health and development of babies and children from late pregnancy until the child turns five, as well as supporting the health and wellbeing of parents. They help ensure every child gets the best start in life.
In Bolton, health visitors sit within the 0-19 Health and Wellbeing Service provided by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. https://www.boltonft.nhs.uk/services/0-19-health-and-wellbeing/
As well as health visitors, the teams include school nurses, public health nurses, public health assistant practitioners, admin staff and other health practitioners. They work to ensure the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme by offering a range of services to support you and your child’s health and wellbeing.
Your health visiting team can offer you support on a wide range of topics including preparing for parenthood, feeding and nutrition, safe sleep, growth and development, parent infant relationships, mental health, oral health, sleep, routines, managing minor illnesses and behaviour. As well as support with unemployment, financial worries, homelessness, relationship issues and other health concerns. They work with a range of different people like your GP, the midwife or other health and social care professionals and can signpost or refer you to other services where needed.
When will my health visitor contact me?
Your health visiting team will contact you at 5 key stages, just to check you and your baby are healthy and developing well.
You’ll also receive an additional contact from the community infant feeding team and the Startwell locality team in between these which means you will be contacted for the following:
• An antenatal review: from 28 weeks of pregnancy onwards
• Infant feeding support: 1-3 days after baby is born (from the community infant feeding team)
• A new baby review: 10-14 days after baby is born
• A 6-8 week review
• A 9-12 month review
• A 18 month development review (from a Startwell Locality Practitioner)
• A 2-2 ½ year review
These visits usually take place between 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.
During the review visits your health visitor or public health assistant practitioner will discuss your baby’s health and development and any concerns you might have, as well as offer advice and support on a range of topics.
They will also be able to connect you to local groups and activities happening in the family hubs and wider area, as well as refer you to other services where needed.
For more information visit Your baby's health and development reviews - NHS
Remember, it’s important to know that if you’re worried about something in-between visits, you can always contact your health visitor to get extra support or book a well baby clinic appointment, you do not need to wait.
You can contact your health visitor via their mobile number or your health visiting team on the numbers below:
· Breightmet and Little Lever team - 01204 338063
· Central and Great Lever team - 01204 335019
· Chorley Roads team - 01204 338188
· Crompton and Halliwell team - 01204 463050
· Farnworth and Kearsley team - 01204 463666
· Horwich and Blackrod team - 01204 335138
· Rumworth team - 01204 337578
· Turton team - 01204 463050
· Westhoughton team - 01204 335138
Phone lines are open between 9-10am and 2.30-5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). If your query is of a medical nature please contact 111, your GP or in an emergency please call 999.
These provide an opportunity for you discuss any concerns about your child’s health, growth and development with a health visitor. They will be able to provide advice and support as well as check and weigh baby if needed.
Appointments must be booked in advance by contacting the relevant team. The clinics take place at:
· Mondays 1-3pm @ Farnworth Family Hub
(Contact Farnworth and Kearsley team)
· Mondays 1-3pm @ Oxford Grove Family Hub
(Contact Chorley Roads team)
· Tuesdays 9:30-11:30am @ Great Lever Family Hub
(Contact Central and Great Lever team)
· Tuesdays 1-2:45pm @ Crompton Centre (term-time only)
(Contact Crompton and Halliwell team)
· Wednesdays 9:30-11.:30am @ Alexandra Family Hub
(Contact Rumworth team)
· Wednesdays 1-2:45pm @ Oldhams Family Hub
(Contact Turton team)
· Thursdays 1-3pm @ Tonge Family Hub
(Contact Breightmet and Little Lever Team)
· Thursdays 1:30-3pm @ Horwich Health Hub (BL6 7BT)
(Contact Horwich and Blackrod team)
· Fridays 9:30-11:30am @ Winifred Kettle House
(Contact Westhoughton team)