Health Visitors
Health visitors are qualified nurses with special training and experience in child health and health promotion. Many people think that health visitors only visit new babies and their families, but their role is actually much more varied and they offer a wide range of practical support and advice.
Health visitors can help maintain your independence by:
- Giving you information about activities in your area which will help you stay healthy
- Advising you about benefits and assistance available from other organisations to help support you in your own home
- Visiting you at home and understanding your needs, thereby ensuring you stay in control of your life
Health visitors aim to promote the health of the whole community. You will find health visitors at your local GP surgery, working alongside practice staff, or at the local health centre.
Contacting your local surgery or health centre will put you in touch with a health visitor, who can visit you at home. Health visitors are subject to a professional code of conduct which requires them to act in your best interest. Their aim is help you lead as healthy a life as possible, both physically and mentally.
Healthy Start Scheme:
Healthy Start is a scheme which provides pregnant women and children under four in low- income families and all pregnant under-18s, vouchers for free milk, fresh fruit and vegetables and infant formula milk. It also provides free vitamin supplements. For more information contact your Health visitor or midwife or visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk