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. Our Health Visitors work in five teams across the Lewisham borough.
From 1st April 2023 your Health Visiting teams will be allocated based on where you live, rather than the GP surgery you are registered with.
Your HV team may change. If this is the case, then your HV team will notify you.
This will not change any of the services we offer to you, but may mean a change in the person that delivers the care,
If you would like to contact the HV teams please contact our admin hub on 0203 049 1873
Feeding your Baby
Vitamins & Healthy Start
Jaundice
Vaccinations
Child Development
Safe Sleeping
Mental Health
Accident Prevention
Dental Health
Baby Hubs
Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)
Domestic Abuse
FGM
Teenage Parents
MECSH
Minor Ailments
Family Health
Lewisham Children and Family Centres
We welcome your feedback (Friends and Family Test)
eRedbook
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. These appointments will be in a mixture of locations, some contacts at home, clinic, or a virtual appointment using Attend Anywhere.
- 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 need to make an appointment to attend the child health clinics to ensure covid safety. Please call your HV team to book in. These 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.
The Institute of Health Visiting have created a infographic detailing who Health Visitors are and what they do:
Health messages
Online Speech and Language Therapy Drop in Clinic
Mindful Mums/Being Dads Groups
Healthwatch Lewisham
Domestic/Sexual Abuse Hotline Information
Sling Safety – The T.I.C.K.S Rule
Sling Safety – T.I.C.K.S Advice
Group A Strep- What You Need to Know
The cases of Group A Strep are on the increase. Please see the attached link to read more, including what to look out for:
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/05/group-a-strep-what-you-need-to-know/
Urgent Safety Alert for Baby Self Feeding Pillows
Self-feeding pillows/prop feeders present a risk of serious harm or death from choking or aspiration pneumonia.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued an Urgent Safety Alert for baby self-feeding pillows and is urging the public to stop using them immediately and dispose of them safely.
Businesses selling these products must immediately remove them from the market as they cannot comply with the safety requirements under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
Baby self-feeding pillow products are designed to be attached to a bottle so that the baby may be positioned on its back to self-feed without the assistance of a caregiver holding the bottle and controlling the feed.
This is inconsistent with NHS guidance in relation to safe bottle feeding.
When used as intended, even whilst under the supervision of a caregiver, it could lead to immediate, serious harm or death from choking or aspiration pneumonia.
Consumers, local authority trading standards services and businesses are asked to take specific action to cease use or remove these products from the market and stop using immediately.
Water Safety – Prevent Tragedies
Safer Sleep Advice in the Winter
“We know that the colder months can be difficult for families. You might be worried about paying your heating bills with the increase in energy prices and concerned about trying to keep your home and your baby warm. Whilst we understand it can be tempted to wrap your baby up to keep them warm while they sleep, we know that overheating increases the chances of SIDS and research shows that it’s better for babies to be cooler rather than too hot.
To reduce the risk of overheating, avoid using thick bedding and duvets and remove any outdoor clothing and hats when you are indoors. During the winter months, firmly tucked in sheets and blankets (not above shoulder height) or a well-fitted baby sleep bag are fine for babies to sleep in.
To help the Lullaby Trust have put together some useful advice on safer sleep during the colder months.
Keeping warm this winter – The Lullaby Trust”
Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/LullabyTrust
They have also published a guide for parents/carers who may find themselves in emergency situations where it may not always be possible to access a recommended sleep space for baby.
The Lullaby Trust have adapted safer sleep advice based on different sleeping situations. How-to-Follow-Safer-Sleep-Advice-in-Emergency-Situations-Resource-2022.pdf (lullabytrust.org.uk)
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.
