Basingstoke and Tadley Health Visiting Team
What do health visitors do?
Health visitors work alongside GP’s and midwives; the team is made up of health visitors and
community nursery nurses to support you to make the right choices to improve your child’s health
and wellbeing from birth to age 5. Health visitors are trained nurses who have also completed a
public health degree.
Nursery nurses offer support to you and your family. As your child starts growing and developing we
can provide support and advice on: sleep routines, behaviour, speech, infant nutrition, play and
stimulation, toilet training, teething and safety.
When do you see a health visitor?
We deliver the Healthy Child Programme to every family, there are key times which you can expect
to have a contact from your health visiting team.
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Antenatal Contact: a health visitor will introduce the health visiting service to you around 28
weeks of pregnancy.
New birth Visit: a health visitor will visit you and your baby at home around 2 weeks after
birth.
Postnatal Visit: around 6-8 weeks after birth. A health visitor will visit you at home to ask you
about your emotional health and wellbeing
Health Review 1: a health visitor will send you a questionnaire just before your child’s first
birthday so that you can review your child’s development. An appointment will then be
arranged to go through this together.
Health Review 2: a health visitor will send you a questionnaire just before your child’s
second birthday so that you can review your child’s development. An appointment will
then be arranged to go through this together.
Can health visitors give advice on feeding my baby?
Whether you are breastfeeding, bottle feeding or a combination of both, we can offer advice and
support. All our team members have successfully completed the accredited Baby Friendly Initiative
breast feeding training. Our service has received international recognition from UNICEF, and was
awarded the Baby Friendly award for supporting and promoting breastfeeding and improving care
for mothers and babies in Hampshire.
You can acces support by either contacting the Health Visiting Advice Line which is available 09:00–
17:00 Monday to Friday on: 01256 376558 or attending your local child health advice clinic. These
are absolutley free and can be accessed by ANYONE, whether you are expecting your first child or
you are an experienced parent. The support available includes: height and weight measurements,
breastfeeding assessments and advice, managing childhood illnesses, general advice. It is also an
opportunity to meet other parents.
Your local clinic is held every Tuesday 09.30 – 11.30 at Tadley Community Centre RG26 4HN. Specific
breast feeding support is available between 09.00 – 10.00
You are welcome to use any of the child health clinics which are held throughout the week across
Hampshire. Details of these can be accessed on our website:
http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/services/childrens-services/healthvisitors/child-health-clinics/
http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/services/childrensservices/breastfeeding-service/breastfeedinggroups/?aps=3259440~%5bMV%5dCOUNTRY%3den-GB~