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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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.
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BABY FACE MASK ALERT
ALERT!
We have been informed ‘baby face masks’ are being advertised to parents.
BABIES AND CHILDREN UNDER 3 DO NOT NEED TO WEAR A FACE MASK OR COVERING.
The Government’s official ‘staying safe outside your home’ guidelines state: “Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of 3 or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly”.
The Lullaby Trust, (who provide expert advice on safer sleeping and SIDS) has urged parents to avoid using face masks on babies: “We are not aware of any advice for babies to wear masks, whether they are infected or not. There is a potential risk of suffocation and other hazards with doing this”.
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BCG update
Due to the rapidly falling rates of Tuberculosis (TB) in all of London and Western Europe, the BCG vaccine will no longer be required for all newborn babies as of September 2020.
Some children under 1 year old will still receive the BCG vaccine. If your baby meets the criteria for requiring a BCG your; midwife, health visitor or other health professional will inform you and refer you to the immunisations team.
Further BCG information on the vaccination page
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Postnatal group
Is your baby between 6 weeks and 4 months? We are now running Zoom postnatal groups. The groups run for 5 weeks with each week covering a different topic, at the end of each session there will be time for question and answers and to speak with other parents.
The topics include:
- rhythms and patterns
- baby wellbeing
- play and development
- introducing solids
- parental wellbeing
Sessions are starting:
Wednesday 9th September 10am-11am
Thursday 10th September 10am-11am
If you are interested in attending, please contact your Health Visiting Team.
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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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Urgent Update regarding COVID-19 – Coronavirus
To ensure that we minimise the spread of Covid- 19, and maximise the safety for all families,
All Baby Hubs and Breastfeeding Hubs will be suspended from the 23/3/20 until further notice.
For support and advice, please access Hani the Health Visitor through the “contact us” page on this website, or call our admin hub on 02030491873, who will direct your call to the relevant personnel. Please check this website for any further updates. Thank You.
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FOR PARENTS: A SPECIAL COVID MESSAGE
When your child is ill or injured it is very difficult to decide if/when to call your child’s GP, NHS 111 or go the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E).
During the current situation and while the government is asking everyone to stay at home, it can be confusing to know what to do. Click here to access a Parent’s guide to COVID 19.
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Parenting Through Coronavirus (COVID-19)
We know that this is a worrying time for all families and it will definitely not be how you had planned your parenting journey. You may have concerns in relation to your pregnancy or your children. You may be wanting to access helpful parenting information.
The iHV is dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of all families and have put together links and resources from trusted organisations and websites to support parents and families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The iHV will be developing and adding new resources to support families over the coming months, during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond.
Please follow the link for more information: https://ihv.org.uk/ParentingCOVID19
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Information for Pregnant Women and their Families on Coronavirus infection and Pregnancy/Breastfeeding from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists
Please click here for more information.
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Mental Health and Wellbeing
The current situation with Covid-19 may be causing you to have increased anxiety; this may be new for you, but for some it may have worsened your pre existing mental health diagnosis, such as health anxiety or OCD.
Self Help:
1.Limit watching the news/be mindful of what you are reading;
2.Have breaks from social media/mute any apps that may be providing regular updates or are triggering anxiety;
3.Stay in touch with people (via telephone if you are isolating);
4.Avoid burnout-eat well, stay hydrated and take regular exercise.
Click here to navigate to Mind.
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Important information regarding the Coronavirus outbreak
For more information and advice about the Coronavirus,
please click here
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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. Visit www.kids2.com and click on “IMPORTANT RECALL INFORMATION” for more information.
