Health visitors
Health visiting teams, led by a qualified health visitor, work with families to support the health needs of children under 5 years-old.
Health visitor services include:
- early checks for ill health
- advice on child growth and development
- breastfeeding support for new mothers and their family
- parenting support for mothers, fathers and carers
- information on local support groups and classes
- support for single parents
- help to understand health news and reports that appear in the media
- advice on healthy eating, stop-smoking services, and other lifestyle choices
- support with starting school and getting care from the school nursing service
Every mother and child is entitled to the 5 meetings with a health visitor. These are the:
- antenatal health visit, at 28 weeks of pregnancy
- new baby review
- 6 to 8 weeks-old assessment
- 1 year-old assessment
- 2 to 2-and-a-half year-old review
There is a named health visitor for every children's centre in Thurrock. You can contact your local children's centre for details.
Healthy Child programme
Health visiting for under 5s, and school nursing for 5 to 19 year-olds, are part of our Healthy Child Programme for children, young people and families.
North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) provides the health visiting and school nursing services in Thurrock. Go to NELFT: health visiting for more information.