About the Health Visiting service

About us

Health visitors are nurses or midwives with specialist training in family and public health. We help parents and their families to improve health and wellbeing during pregnancy, after the birth and all the way through until your child is five.

The Health Visiting Service in Hackney and the City is managed by Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

The service is made up of 8 teams divided into 8 neighbourhoods across both boroughs working together to improve health and wellbeing and foster community connections.
so everyone in our Neighbourhood can thrive. Visit the Neighbourhoods website for more information.

The teams are aligned to local Children Centres (in Hackney and the City) and GP surgeries (in Hackney and the City).

Appointment stages

Caption
Pre-birth Ante-natal contact To provide ante-natal care to look after you and your baby. Multidisciplinary team including; midwives, obstetricians, GPs, maternity support and health visitors. GP surgery/local hospital	5-8 days Blood spot test (heel prick) To test for 9 conditions that include cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease. Midwife/health visitor carried out at home. If you are new into the UK or new to the area please contact your health visitor to discuss the blood spot test.
10-14 days Health Visitor New Birth Visit To assess that mother and baby are well and to introduce the Healthy Child Programme. Carried out at home	0-3 months Newborn Hearing Test Early detection of any hearing problems - ideally to have the screening in the first 4 weeks. New Born Hearing Screening. Babies with a GP in Hackney or the City can go to Homerton Hospital and local health centres
4 weeks Health Visitor 1st family support visit Extra support for first time parents and those who may require additional health visiting support. Various locations including; home, clinic or Children’s Centre	6-8 weeks 1st development review To assess that your baby is developing well, review feeding and maternal wellbeing. GP and health visitor. GP Surgery, Baby Clinic, Children’s Centre

When you will see us

in pregnancy - after 28 weeks you will be contacted by our team
10 to 14 days after the birth of your baby
6 to 8 weeks
8 to 12 months
27 months*
3 and a half year pre school review

*If your child is attending a local Early years setting when they are 27 months old you will be offered a joint review of your child’s development, including their health, learning and behaviour.. This will be with your health visitor and Early years provider and is known as an “integrated review”. If your child is not at an Early years setting the review will be with a member of your health visiting team.
We are here to help, listen, understand your needs and work in partnership with you to give your family the best start. For some families this will include additional visits.

About the Health Visiting service

Search the Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust website