Children's health

We can help you by providing health advice and information about your baby, child or young person. To speak to a health professional in the team, please contact us on 01522 843000.

We work with midwives, GPs, social workers and other health professionals.

Our hours of work are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays, however if you leave a message out of hours we will contact you the following day.

The children's health team includes:

• Health visitors are qualified and registered nurses and/or midwives who can give advice to parents about their new baby. They will assess the needs of individuals and families to promote good health from pre-birth to the end of your child's first year at school.
• Family health workers - family health workers deliver packages of care recommended by your health visitor, relating to family health and wellbeing and child development, for example behaviour. They also complete health assessments for children in the community. 
• Registered nurses support the health visitors to deliver some health assessments to children such as the 8 to 12 month and 2 to 2.5-year assessment. They will also deliver packages of care recommended by your health visitor, relating to family health and wellbeing and child development.
• Children and young people's nurses - the children and young people's nurses are qualified nurses with experience working with children and young people. They will continue to provide support up to the age of 19 (SEND 25) for those with long-term or more complex health needs and children with bladder or bowel conditions. For children with complex or specialist bladder and bowel conditions they will refer to the Specialist Continence Service.
• Student Health Visitors are registered nurses and/or midwives who are undertaking a specialist training programme to become Health Visitors. They always work under the supervision of a Health Visitor.

Consultation by video call

The Children’s Health Service have introduced the option of attending some appointments by video as of 1 November 2024. We aim to maximise opportunities through the use of technology to provide better quality services.

Your Health Professional may discuss the option to attend your follow up appointment by video consultation. Video consultations provide you with a better quality and more interactive appointment, where previously you may have received a telephone call.

Appointments by video consultations may be on the following:

• Support provided by the Children’s Health Team for, behaviour, sleep, toileting, eating and breast feeding.
• Children’s and Young People Nurse appointments for your child’s bladder and bowel conditions.
• Children’s Continence Nurse appointments for your child’s review of their medication and progress.

Any invite to have your appointment by video will not replace your face-to-face appointments, such as, the primary birth which will take place 10-14 days after you have had your baby, your child’s 6–8-week review, your child’s 8–12-month review and your review when your child is between 2 and 2 and a half years old.

You can visit our Facebook page for more information.

You can also view a selection of videos for further information.