Access to Health Visiting teams is Monday to Friday 09.00 - 5.00 excluding public holidays

Referrals to the Health Visiting services can be made direct to the child/families Health Visiting team by telephone or letter.

Health Visitors are able to give advice and support on physical and emotional health issues that are causing concern to pregnant women, expectant fathers and parents of new babies and young children.

The Health Visiting teams are closely linked to GP practices and can be contacted through the practices.  Health Visitors undertake home visits as well as seeing parents and children at GP practices, Children's Centres and local Community Clinics.

Many of the services the Health Visiting team offer for children and families, such as Well Baby Clinics and Parenting support, are run in partnership with the local Sure Start Children's Centres which are readily accessible in the community.

The Health Visiting service delivers the national Healthy Child Programme which aims to improve the health and well-being of all children and begins in early pregnancy and for the first 5 years of life.

All pregnant women and families with babies/children under 5 will be offered the core health and development reviews and immunisation advice to ensure a healthy start for your baby, children and the whole family.

Outline of the Healthy Child Programme delivered by the Health Visiting team includes:

 - Ante natal contact from 30 weeks of pregnancy

 - New Baby Visit, including Newborn Hearing Screening between 11-14 days

 - Review of progress at 6 - 8 weeks of age

 - Review of progress at 4 months of age

 - Review of progress at 8 months of age

 - Review of progress at 2 years of age

In addition the service aims to provide easy access to information, advice and support when you have concerns or need additional support and may include working with and/or referring to other agencies or services to support you.

You will see a member of the Health Visiting team dependant on the health check or clinic you and your child are attending or the concern you are seeking advice/support with.

The Health Visiting teams are led by a qualified Health Visitor who has completed specialist training following nurse or midwifery training.  Other team members will include qualified Nursery Nurses and administration assistants.

All pregnant women will receive a contact from a Health Visitor from 30 weeks of pregnancy when expectant mums will receive the Parent Child Health Record (Red Book) that includes contact details for your Health Visiting team.

Parents with babies and children under the age of 5 years who transfer into the area and/or change their GP will be contacted by a member of the team soon after registering with a GP.

All parents with children under 5 will be invited to attend the health checks and reviews aspart of the Healthy Child Programme.

Should you need to contact the team outside of the routine checks, please contact your Health Visitor direct.  If you are not aware of who to contact see section 'Who can I contact to find out more?' below.

Talk to your local Health Visiting team for more information

Talk to your local Health Visiting team for more information

The Health Visiting service offers a range of clinics and group sessions for parents and families across East and West Dorset.  These will vary dependant ont he needs of the local population but will include for example Well Baby Clinics, parenting support and under 1s groups.  The clinics and groups are held in a variety of settings such as Children's Centres, community clinics, church halls, GP Practices and community centres.

To find out up to date information about clinics and groups in your local area, please contact your Health Visiting Team.

If you don't have the contact details for your Health Visiting team, this information can be obtained by telephoning the numbers detailed in the section below.

Health Visitors in West Dorset and Purbeck, please contact:

  - Catherine Hallatt on 07766 801138

Health Visitors in East Dorset and North Dorset, please contact:

- Mary Rossant on 07919 412153

Health Visitors in Christchurch and Weymouth & Portland, please contact:

- Jill Sweeney on 07500 089486

If you wish to speak with the manager of the service, please contact:

Dawn Campbell, Children and Families Health Services Manager - Dorset on 07920 831243

 or the

Administration Team: 01305 361795 Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm

If there is no one available to take your call, please leave a message and someone will return your call at the earliest opportunity.