What is a Health Visitor?
A Health Visitor is a qualified nurse or midwife who has completed specialist training in child and family health. They offer support and advice regarding the wellbeing of your child until their school years.
What care does your Health Visitor provide?
Your Health Visitor will provide you with specialist up-to-date advice and support on many health and wellbeing topics such as:
- your own support after the birth of your baby
- child development – sleep, speech and language, behaviour and school readiness
- assistance with the various aspects of being a parent
- providing information on childhood immunisations
- breastfeeding
- formula feeding
- weaning
- promoting oral health
- safety – reducing accidents
- minor ailments
- building community connections
- promoting good mental health and wellbeing of the whole family
Where are Health Visitors based?
The team is made up of Health Visitors, Community Nursery Nurses and Healthcare Support Workers who are based at various locations throughout the Borders. Children and families will be seen at home, in clinic or in other community locations.
When will I meet my Health Visitor?
Your Health Visitor will contact you between 32-34 weeks of pregnancy to introduce the service.
What can I ask my Health Visitor?
Please feel free to ask your Health Visitor any questions you have at any time. Health visiting teams spend a lot of time on home visits but all health visiting teams have answer phones and reception staff that you can leave a message with. The team will aim to get back to you as soon as possible.
If you have any concerns about your child and cannot get in touch with your Health Visitor directly please contact your local team (numbers listed below) or out of hours call NHS 24 on 111.
|
Health Board Reception |
Telephone Number |
|
Coldstream Health Centre |
01890 885288 |
|
Knoll Health Centre, Duns |
01361 883373 |
|
Earlston Health Centre |
01896 848347 |
|
Eyemouth Health Centre |
01890 752600 |
|
Kelso Health Centre |
01573 223001 |
|
Lauder Health Centre |
01578 718670 |
|
Melrose Health Centre |
01896 822161 |
|
Jedburgh Health Centre |
01835 865200 |
|
Hawick Health Centre |
01450 361047 |
|
Hawick – O’Connell Street Medical Practice |
01450 376845 |
|
Selkirk Health Centre |
01750 23727 |
|
Galashiels Health Centre |
01896 661367 |
|
West Linton Medical Practice |
01968 660808 |
|
Haylodge Health Centre |
01721 722080 |
|
St Ronan’s Health Centre |
01896 830203 |