Health visiting

Health Visitors work in partnership with the wider children’s services in the community to support families through the early years of their children’s lives.

They are able to address physical and emotional health issues that are of concern to all pregnant women, expectant fathers and parents of new babies and young children.

Health Visitors lead on the delivery of the national Healthy Child programme for children aged 0 - 4 and identify when children and families need access to additional services.

The health visiting teams are closely linked to your GP practice and can be contacted through the practice. Health visitors undertake home visits as well as seeing parents and children at the GP practice or local community clinics.

Many of the services the health visiting team offers for children and families, such as well baby clinics and parenting support, are run in partnership with the local Sure Start Children’s Centre’s which are readily accessible in the community.

For Dorset Children Centres follow http://www.dorsetforyou.com/childrenscentres 

Accessing the service 

All families with children aged under 5 and expectant parents have a named health visitor who can be contacted via their GP practice or local Children’s Centre.

Health visitors are notified of all pregnancies and births to parents registered with the GP practice and will visit you towards the end of your pregnancy and when your baby is born.

Your midwife or other health professional will also be able to put you in touch with your health visitor.

Families with children aged over 5 may contact the health visitor who will signpost them to relevant services.

For further information please visit the Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust website.