During your pregnancy you will be under the care of a midwife. Midwifery teams provide care and support to women and their families while pregnant, throughout labour and during the period after a baby’s birth.
Midwifery Team appointments may take place at:
- your home
- a Children's Centre
- a hospital
After your baby’s birth they will offer Vitamin K for your baby and a screening test known as the newborn blood spot.
Midwives will agree a plan with you for visits at home or at a children’s centre until your baby is at least 10 days old. This is to check that you and your baby are well and support you in these first few days.
Families will also start to see their health visitor between 10 and 14 days and the health visitor and midwife may visit together to help support you to have a smooth transition from midwifery services to health visiting.
Your GP is often the first doctor you talk to if you have any concerns about your child. GPs usually work in GP practices as part of a team, which can include:
- Nurses
- Healthcare assistants
- Practice managers
- Receptionists and other staff
Your GP practice can provide a wide range of services including:
- Advice on health problems
- Examinations
- Treatment for common ailments
- Prescriptions for medicine
- Health checks
- vaccinations
They might refer your child to be seen by other health professionals if more specialist knowledge is needed.
Register your baby with your GP as early as possible in case you need their help.
You can contact your GP at any time, whether it's for you or your child.
If you move, register with a new GP close to you as soon as possible.
If your baby is not yet registered with a GP but needs to see one, you can receive emergency treatment from any GP surgery.
All children can get free dental checks from the NHS. It’s important to have these check regularly. This will help find health problems early and treat them.
To find a local dentist you can search online at Find a dentist - NHS Dental practices can take private and NHS patients, and most take both.
To get NHS dental treatment, contact a practice providing NHS dentistry and ask for an NHS appointment.
There is specialist dental services available for children with additional needs or disability. Please speak to your health visitor or school nurse for more information.
Our health visiting teams work with mothers and fathers and their families to promote the health and wellbeing of children from pregnancy until school age. Health Visitors are nurses or midwives who have undertaken additional training in community public health nursing. By supporting parents to learn and develop the skills required to bring up their children, our health visiting teams help give the new generation the best possible start in life.
Our universal Health Visitor contacts for all children in Hillingdon are:
- Antenatal contact
- New baby visit at 10-14 days
- Six week contact at 4 - 8 weeks
- Health and developmental review 9-12 months
- Health and developmental review 2-2.5 years
All children 0-5 years (pre-school) are under the care of the health visiting service in Hillingdon and are referred to the Health Visiting service by the midwives/hospital maternity teams or your GP.
Our website will provide you and your family with some useful information before and for when you have your baby. If you would to see a health visitor to discuss you or your family’s health or any concerns that you may have during your pregnancy, then please contact us on the email address or phone number above to arrange to speak with your local health visitor.
Your school nurse is a registered nurse who can help you stay fit and healthy. Every child 5-19 in Hillingdon has a school nurse and they are very experienced in helping young people. They’ve seen it all before, so there is no need to feel worried or embarrassed about any issues you may have. You can see the nurse confidentially.
Some reasons people see the school nurse include:
- Advice on exercise and healthy eating.
- To receive immunisations
- To talk to someone about stress, anxiety or bullying
- Advice on drugs, alcohol or smoking
- Sexual health advice and support
- For help with managing allergies
- Asthma support and education
- Help managing diabetes and epilepsy
- Support in managing bladder problem, also known as bedwetting or daytime wetting