The Hub is a central point of contact for the service. You can call the hub if you need to speak directly to a health visitor or school nurse for advice, support or guidance, or to book or change an appointment. The hub operates Monday to Friday 9am-5pm (excluding bank holidays).

East Hub: 0300 303 3924

(Covering East Staffs, Cannock, Rugeley, Lichfield and Tamworth)

West Hub: 0300 303 3923

(Covering Moorlands, Newcastle, South Staffordshire, Stafford and Stone)

ChatHealth is a text message service for parents/carers and young people to ask for health and wellbeing advice - see the contact box at the bottom of this page for telephone details.

ChatHealth is available between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday. Outside of these times, anyone who texts the service receives a message explaining where to get help if their question is urgent, and when they can expect a response.

Messages sent to the dedicated number are delivered to a secure website and responded to by one of the trained health professionals in the Families Health and Wellbeing team. Texts are usually replied to within one working day.

The legal bit

We do not usually inform parents, teachers or anyone else if a young person contacts the service. We might inform someone if we were concerned about their safety, but we would usually speak to the young person first. Your messages are stored and can be seen by other healthcare staff who follow the same confidentiality rules. We aim to reply to you within one working day and you should get an immediate response to confirm we have received your text. Texts will not be seen outside of normal working hours. If you are a young person and need help before you hear back from us, contact a member of school staff or your doctor. Our text number does not receive voice calls or MMS picture messages. We support messaging from UK mobile numbers only (which does not include messages sent from landlines, international mobile numbers and some 'number masking' mobile apps). Prevent our service from sending messages to you by texting STOP to our number. Messages are charged at your usual rate.

Each locality within Staffordshire has an active Facebook page, where we share evidence based health information and resources for your local area.  Our Community Development Practitioners also run the Instagram and Twitter accounts, why not give them a follow?  See the map below for the page names and handles.

Virtual Breastfeeding Support Clinic

Midlands Partnership are offering a weekly virtual breastfeeding support clinic, where we can offer support, share information and answer any questions you may have.   

Our virtual support clinic is open to pregnant and breastfeeding mums living in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.  To attend the virtual session you'll need to book a place through our dedicated bookings site.  To ensure everyone's safety we'll need to check the NHS number of either you or your baby, you will need to add this at the time of booking (see the 'How to book' information below).

The virtual clinic takes place each Tuesday 13.30 - 14.30

To book a place follow the link to our online bookings page.

The sessions are delivered over Microsoft Teams, but you won't need any special equipment or to download any apps, just a smartphone, tablet or laptop and a valid email address.

Book now through our online bookings page:

How to book: 

1. Open the above link 
2. Select the event you would like to attend (the information tab includes further details) 
3. Select the date from the calendar (please note any dates with available sessions will only be a slight shade darker – we are unable to change this) 
4. Select the time 
5. Add in your details (Your name, your email address and either you or your baby’s date of birth).  
6. Click ‘book’ 

Following booking your will receive a confirmation email, including a joining link (please check your spam folder)

Antenatal Contact

In addition to the care and support from your Midwives, all pregnant women will be contacted and offered a visit from a member of a Health Visiting team after 28 weeks of pregnancy. You will be given information about our service, including how and when to contact us.You will have the chance to discuss your feelings about becoming a parent, any concerns you may have and to ask any questions. You will be offered health promotion advice to help you and your unborn baby stay healthy, including infant feeding, diet and safe sleep.

New Birth Visit

A Health Visitor will visit you and your family at home, usually when your new baby is between 10-14 days old. This visit gives you the chance to discuss any concerns about the health and well-being of yourself, your new baby or the rest of the family. You will be able to ask for any advice and discuss any worries you may have. You will be offered a bookstart pack to encourage reading with your baby.

Well Baby Clinic

Well baby clinics are weekly drop in clinics where you can bring your baby or child to be weighed or ask questions about your own or your baby’s health. Please do not bring your baby or child to this clinic if they are unwell.

6 week review

This review is usually done by your Health Visitor in a clinic (before you have a check with your doctor at 8 weeks). This is a chance to discuss any worries, even minor things. Your baby’s weight, health, growth and development will be reviewed with you. You will be asked about your emotional wellbeing and if you feel you need any additional support.

3-4 month contact

This review is usually done in a clinic and gives you the opportunity to discuss any worries and have your baby weighed. We will give you information about introducing solid foods so you are prepared for when your baby is ready.

Resources:

• Look at me I am 3 months (pdf)

9-12 month development review

Between nine and twelve months your baby’s general health and development will be reviewed with you by a member of the health visiting team. You will be able to have your baby weighed and measured.

This is a chance to talk about your baby, their health and general behaviour and discuss any worries. You will be sent a questionnaire prior to the appointment which allows you to try out some activities with your baby at home, where they are comfortable and in familiar surroundings. Your Health Visitor will go through this questionnaire at your appointment; it is just a guide and it is not expected that your child will be able to do all the things on the questionnaire.

Some things you may want to discuss when you go for the review include:

• How you are feeling yourself
• Your baby’s feeding, sleep, and/or behaviour
• Your baby’s weight
• Is your baby sitting alone?
• Does your baby babble (ba-ba, da-da, etc)?
• Your baby’s eyesight and hearing
• Your child’s immunisations
• Your baby’s teeth
• Switching from bottle to cup
• Getting rid of dummies
• Accident prevention
• Childcare / going back to work or training

Resources:

• Look at me I am 1 (pdf)

24-30 month development review

Your child’s progress will be reviewed at around 2 - 2½ years by a member of the health visiting team. This is a chance to talk about your child, their health and general behaviour and discuss any worries you may have, for example:

• Speech and language development
• Behaviour
• Toilet training
• Home safety
• Brushing your child’s teeth / registering with a dentist
• Immunisations.
• Getting ready for nursery

You will be sent a questionnaire prior to the appointment as with the 9-12 month development review, and again, this is just a guide and it is not expected that your child will be able to do all the things on the questionnaire. 

Remember; if you are worried about your child’s behaviour, health, growth or development you can contact your Health Visitor at any time through your local Hub or Chat Health.

Resources:

• Look at me I am 2 (pdf)

4-5 years reception e-leaflet

During your child’s Reception year, we will send you an e-leaflet or a papy copy is available if you prefer.  The e-leaflet shows some of the key areas that support your child’s growing, learning and overall health.  Every child is unique!  After reading the leaflet there may be some areas you have concerns about.  The confidential contact link at the end of the leaflet enables you to reach out for support from your School Nurse.

The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)

This programme is delivered within school and aims to weigh and measure all children in England in Reception and Year 6.

You will be sent a letter and information about the programme when your child’s class is due to take part. You are given the option of opting out of this programme if you wish.

• NCMP Pre-measurement Schools height and weight measurements - PDF 

All parents/carers will be informed of the results of their child’s measurements by post within six weeks of the measurement date.

Young people's high school drop in's (11-19 years)

Young people are invited to drop-in clinics at their school to discuss any concerns with their school nurse*. The nurse can provide confidential advice and support around issues including:

• Health promotion & education
• Health Screening and assessment
• Healthy eating and weight management
• Emotional wellbeing support
• Bedwetting (enuresis)
• Referrals to other services
• Signposting for sexual health and stop smoking
• Safeguarding

*The School Nurse must have parental consent to see children

To check when the School Nurse visits your School, please take a look at the 'drop-in' section for your local area

Community & Virtual School Nurse Drop-in Clinics

Parents and carers of children aged 5-19 are invited to attend local community drop ins (either in person or virtually), where you can speak to your child’s School Nurse about your child's health. A Community Drop-in is an open access, confidential service that provides parents with the opportunity to “drop-in” without an appointment to discuss any aspects of your child’s health or wellbeing with a member of the Team.

Young people who are not attending school can also attend these clinics.

To find details of when the School Nurse is available please take a look at the 'drop-in' section for your local area.