PARENTS of young children are set to get improved access to health visiting services under new proposals.
The services support families with children under five years old and play a vital role in ensuring children have the best start in life through delivery of the healthy child programme.
This includes a series of developmental reviews, immunisations, parent-infant health support and advice and guidance to support parenting and healthy choices.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) have launched a joint public consultation regarding a proposal to enter into a partnership agreement.
WCC currently commissions SWFT to deliver the health visiting service. The current arrangements expire next March presenting an opportunity to consider new ways to offer the service to meet the rising child population and support needs of families.
And residents have the chance to have their say via a consultation survey – available online at warwickshire.gov.uk/ask – running until September 30.
WCC leader Counc Izzi Seccombe said: “Health Visiting plays a crucial role in the critical early years of life. It is important that the service is designed in a way that continues to meet the evolving needs of all families. Through this consultation we want to engage with as many people and organisations as possible to determine if our proposals feel right for people using or working with the service.
“We are keen to hear from current users of the health visiting service including the Family Nurse Partnership and Stop Smoking in Pregnancy service and those who may have previously used this support. We also want to hear from professionals and organisations who have involvement with these services.
“The experiences of these people will be so valuable so I urge people to have a say.”
