Child Health

Health Visitors are nurses or midwives who have undertaken additional training to become specialist community public health nurses (SCPHN).

Health Visitors lead delivery of the Healthy Child Programme for children aged 0-5 years. Their role is to support the health and wellbeing of children and families through evidence based health promotion.

There are currently three health visitors in the Outer West Team, they are Lorraine Wren, Fran Baker and Kitty Lowe.

In addition to the Health Visitors the team also includes Michelle Carr-Smith, a qualified registered nurse who supports delivery of the Healthy Child Programme as a Health Visiting Staff Nurse along with the nursery nurses within the Outer West Team.

Every family has a named Health Visitor, but if your named Health Visitor is not available when you contact the team another Health Visitor will be more than happy to provide support and advice as appropriate.

Whilst the team are employed by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) they are an integral part of the practice team. They work in partnership with other services including GPs, maternity services, other health services, Sure Start Children’s Centres, and early years providers.

As part of the Healthy Child Programme the health visiting team offer and undertake developmental reviews which provide information and guidance to support parenting and health choices. The teams first contact usually takes place during pregnancy and each supportive contact is centred around health promotion and enabling families and children to achieve their optimum health and wellbeing.

Due to COVID, Well Baby Clinics have been suspended at present.

The Health Visiting team can be contacted on 03003 373 488. This phone line has a facility to leave a message if the team are unable to take your call. When leaving a message please include your name, names of your child and contact details to enable a team member to return your call. The team are available Monday to Friday during office hours. Please note that your message may not be picked up on the same day and if you need to seek medical advice you can contact your GP, 111 or ring 999 in an Emergency.

Useful contacts:

NHS Choices  www.nhs.uk

NHS Start for Life  www.nhs.uk/start4life

NHS Change 4 Life www.nhs.uk/change4life

First Steps Nutrition Trust  www.firststepsnutrition.org

Breastfeeding Northumberland   www.breastfeedingnorthumberland.co.uk