Health Visitors are professional Nurses called Community Specialist Public Health Nurses who have completed additional post graduate training in supporting families with children who are under 5 until they start school.

Health visitors are commissioned to deliver a National Programme called ‘The Healthy Child Programme’ so your child grows up to be as healthy as possible and you are supported to be the parents you would like to be.

There are five planned contacts by the Health visiting service. Further support/contacts can be arranged as required with your Health Visiting team.

When attending for appointments or clinics please bring your child health record (the red book).

Antenatal visits are usually carried out when you are 28 to 32 weeks along in your pregnancy.

During the Antenatal visit we will discuss your pregnancy, how it is progressing and how you are feeling about this new change in your life. We will explore any  thoughts you have about what happens postnatally, any support needs you may have and hopefully highlight what resources we have available in Cumbria to help during this time.

Useful information and resources:

The New Birth visit, sometimes called the ‘Primary Visit’, will take about 45 minutes up to an hour. At this visit your health visitor will:

  • Check that your details, which your midwife will have passed on, are correct
  • Chat to you about how the birth of your baby went
  • Check if you have any concerns about your baby's health or behaviour

Your Health Visitor will liaise with your Midwife and will generally take over the care of you and your new baby around 10-14 days after the birth of your baby. If for some reason you want this visit to be carried out later than 10-14 days talk to your Health Visitor and they can be flexible to fit in with your individual needs as a family.

Your Health Visitor will work with you on what it means to become a parent, support you in how to keep your baby safe and healthy and signpost you to other professionals if additional support is needed. 

As parents you will be supported to make choices about how to feed your baby and given support around both bottle and breastfeeding.

At the initial contact you will be provided with contact details of the Health Visiting team and have access to health promotion and health advice via paper or online resources.

Helpful information you will be given at this visit: 

The 6-8 week review appointment is an important opportunity to speak with a health visitor to discuss your baby’s development and progress, as well as your health and wellbeing. 

This visit is important for assessing the baby’s growth and wellbeing alongside the health of the parent, particularly looking for signs of postnatal depression. It is a key time for addressing things such as breastfeeding, dental health, healthy start vitamins, immunisations, sensitive parenting and for supporting on specific issues such as sleep.

The health visitor will review the parents’ general health. They will also signpost to local groups or children’s centre where the mother can access a range of support. The date and time of the appointment will be given to you at your new birth visit and arranged for when your baby is aged between 6 and 8 weeks old. You should have your baby’s Red book with you.

Useful information leaflets: 

The Pre-Year Review, sometimes called the ‘One Year Check’, will take about 45 minutes up to an hour and may be completed in your home or in a clinic setting by a member of the Health Visiting Team.

You will have been sent two assessments to complete prior to the contact which will help us to see if your child requires any early intervention around their emotional and physical health. It will be a great chance for you to raise any concerns or worries you may have and we will work together to set activities to help reduce those worries or submit referrals with your consent to other services to help your child reach their milestones.

It will be an opportunity for us to review your child’s physical, social and emotional needs and explore any risk factors. As part of the review you will have the chance to raise any concerns you may have about your child’s health and development. The Health Visitor will discuss dental care, health promotion, and home safety as well as weigh your child.

Helpful resources: 

As part of the Health Visitor service, your child will be offered a contact for a 2 to 2.5 year review. This can be carried out in a clinic setting or at home by a member of the Health Visiting team. It will be an opportunity for us to review your child’s physical, social and emotional needs and explore any risk factors.

As part of the review you will have the chance to raise any concerns you may have about your child’s health and development. The Health Visitor team member will discuss dental care, health promotion, and home safety as well as weigh your child.

Helpful resources: 

We offer a wide range of support and advice on things like:

  • baby clinics
  • behaviour
  • growth and development
  • immunisations
  • minor ailments
  • nutrition
  • support groups

We can also connect you with other agencies if you need advice or support around housing, benefits or debt.

North Cumbria

Carlisle and Eden Health Visitors Facebook Page

Eden health visitors

Carlisle health visitors

West Cumbria

Allerdale and Copeland 

South Cumbria

South Lakes health visitors

Furness health visitors