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.
Health messages
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Weighing Clinics
From Monday 4th October, our routine weighing clinics will be starting!
The clinics will be running as below
- Bellingham Children’s Centre, 109 Randlesdown Road, SE6 3HB – Thursday’s from 9am – 12pm
- Downham Health Centre, 7-9 Moorside Road, Bromley, BR1 5EP – Thursday’s from 9am – 1pm
- Honor Oak Health Centre, 20 Turnham Road, Brockley, SE4 2LA – Tuesday’s from 9am – 1pm
- Lee Health Centre, 2 Handen Road, SE12 8NP – Tuesday’s from 9:30am – 11:30am
- Sydenham Green Health Centre, 26 Holmshaw Close, Sydenham, SE26 4TH – Tuesday’s from 9am – 1pm
To ensure we comply with Covid-19 social distancing guidelines, these will be appointment only. To book an appointment, please call your HV team. The phone number should be in your child’s red book or on our Contact Us page. If you are unsure who your HV is please contact the admin hub on 0203 049 1873 who can direct your call. To ensure we are available to as many families as possible, please be aware you will not be able to book an appointment more than 2 weeks in advance.
We have implemented some measures into these clinics in order to keep everyone safe, please visit our Baby Hub page for more information.
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Face to Face Breastfeeding Hub
From Monday 27th September, we will be running a face to face Breastfeeding Support Hub at Downderry Children’s Centre, Shroffold Road, Bromley, BR1 5PD. The Hub will run from 1:30pm – 3:30pm and will be APPOINTMENT ONLY and not a Drop-In group. To book an appointment, please contact your Health Visiting team – contact details for your team will be in the front of your child’s red book or on the Contact Us page.Our virtual breastfeeding hubs will also still be running on Zoom 2 times per week. For more information, visit our Breastfeeding page.
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COVID-19 Vaccine
Look out for pop up COVID-19 vaccine clinics around Lewisham over the summer holidays!Visit the below links for key information that may answer any questions or concerns you have about the vaccine:- Everyone over 18 can now book a COVID-19 vaccine; www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or call 119, free of charge.
- Get your COVID-19 vaccine at a walk-in clinic or pop-up event near you; https://selondonccg.nhs.uk/what-we-do/covid-19/covid-19- vaccine/pop-up-clinics/
- Visit the vaccine bus; find out its schedule by following Lewisham Council on Twitter or Instagram
- The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect you and your community. Find out more; www.nhsselondonvaccinefacts.com
- Even if you have had the vaccine, you should continue to get a rapid test twice a week to help stop the spread and protect everyone in the community; www.lewisham.gov.uk/rapidtest
- Need help registering with a GP? Anyone in England can register with a GP surgery. You do not need proof of address or immigration status, ID or an NHS number. Find a GP here: www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp
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Minor Ailments Videos!
We have just added two short minor ailment films to our website, you can find them at the bottom of the Minor Ailments page.
Topics covered:
- Fever
- Colds and coughs
- Diarrhoea and Vomiting
- Viral illnesses
- Skin conditions
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Mindful Mums Drop In Sessions
Join the Mindful Mums drop-in sessions on Zoom for online support from other expectant and new mums. Build confidence and develop social connections with other mums.
No need to register and no obligation to attend every week.
The sessions are for expectant and new mums with children up to 1 year old.
For more information, email mindfulmums@blgmind.org.uk or visit https://blgmind.org.uk/lewisham-mental-health/lewisham-mindful-mums/.
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Being Dad Drop In Sessions
Being Dad groups are for expectant/new dads or men with parenting responsibility for babies and young children up to two years old. The group runs every Tuesday at 8pm on Zoom. The sessions help men to learn more about looking after themselves, managing the changes and challenges of parenthood, all while meeting other dads!
For more information email beingdad@blgmind.org.uk or visit https://blgmind.org.uk/bromley-mental-health/being-dad/
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Flu vaccination for 2 & 3 year olds
All 2 & 3 year olds are entitled to a free flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is given as a nasal spray and protects your child against 4 main strains of influenza (flu) predicted to be in circulation this winter.
Why vaccinate? 30-50% of children are infected with flu and can spread the infection for up to 7 days; vaccinating your child reduces the risk of flu for family members, childcare providers and other children.
Contact your GP practice for your child’s free Flu vaccine!
For more information, see our vaccination page.
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Virtual Breastfeeding Hubs
To provide ongoing breastfeeding support for our mothers during the COVID 19 pandemic, we are now offering virtual breastfeeding hubs via Zoom 3 times a week in place of our usual face to face breastfeeding hubs.
We would love you join, please email lg.breastfeedingvirtualhubs@nhs.net to book in!
The Zoom virtual breastfeeding hubs run:
Every Monday 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Every Thursday 10am – 11am
Every Friday 10am – 11am
Please see our breastfeeding page for further information.
