Who are Health Visitors
Health visitors are registered nurses or midwives with a specialist qualification in public health. They work with families who have children between the ages of 0 and five.
Lewisham health visiting services are provided by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, and our health visitors work in five teams, across the Borough.
What your Health Visitor will offer you.
There are five key stages in your child’s development when you will be contacted by your health visitor:
- Before your baby is born (when you are around 30 weeks’ pregnant)
- New birth visit – between days eight and 14
- Six to eight week visit
- Seven to 12 month developmental review
- Two to two and a half years developmental review
Each health visiting team runs a child health clinic, which you can attend with your under five’s for advice, support and weighing. You do not need to make an appointment to attend the child health clinics, which are held in a variety of venues including GP practices and children’s centres.
Throughout your journey with your health visiting team you will have contact with:
- Health Visitor
- Health Visitor Assistant Practitioners
- Support Workers
Some of our health visitors have undergone further training to become specialist practice teachers. This means they help to educate student health visitors. You will be informed if a student health visitor is joining the visit.
Safeguarding children is an integral part of a health visitor’s role and we work closely with our colleagues from children’s social care, GP practices and voluntary services in order to support families.
If English is not your first language, or if your hearing or vision is compromised, your health visitor has access to a pre-arranged interpreting service.
Admin hub phone number
If you would like to arrange your child’s developmental review or have any general enquiries please call the health visiting Admin hub phone number – 02030491873
Health messages
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Has your child had 2 MMR vaccines?
Public Health England is advising the public to ensure they have had 2 doses of MMR vaccine after outbreaks of measles are confirmed across England. If you are unsure if you or your child have had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine contact your GP.
In Lewisham your child is offered the first MMR at 12 months and second MMR at 15 months.
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Whooping Cough outbreak
Lewisham currently has a Whooping Cough outbreak!
How to prevent Whooping Cough:
- 5-in-1 vaccination at 8, 12 and 16 weeks old
- Pre-school booster vaccination at 3 years 4 months.
- If you are 16+ weeks pregnant you can get your free whooping cough vaccine too!
Contact your GP surgery for your baby or child’s next vaccination appointment.
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Kids II Recalls All Rocking Sleepers Due to Reports of Deaths
Name of Product: All models of Kids II Rocking Sleepers. Sold in the UK through Toys R Us.
Hazard: Infant fatalities have occurred in the Rocking Sleepers, after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach while unrestrained, or under other circumstances.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact Kids II for a refund or voucher. www.kids2.com and click on “IMPORTANT RECALL INFORMATION” for more information.
