Personal Sure Start contact offered to parents
Catherine Gaunt
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Parents-to-be will get their own Sure Start contact, under plans resulting from the Government's maternity and early years review.
Expectant parents will be invited to attend a children's centre and will be assigned a personal contact to give them advice and support from before their child is born, into the pre-school years.
Fathers and mothers will also be able to stay in overnight accommodation on neonatal wards to make sure both parents are involved and supported just after their baby's birth.
The review will also consult on offering all women an assessment of health and social care needs by their 12th week of pregnancy.
Other measures include:
- A 'family start' meeting inviting families to meet with a health visitor or healthy child team between the 12th and 26th week of pregnancy
- Considering whether to offer mothers-to-be the right to choose where they give birth in the NHS constitution
- Promoting the benefits of talking and reading to babies and infants
- Extending the family nurse partnership to all young, vulnerable families within five years, subject to evaluation
- Providing advice on nutrition and smoking to expectant parents.
Health secretary Andy Burnham said, 'A child's lifelong health, happiness and achievements are heavily influenced by their experience before birth and in their earliest years. That's why it's important that we give all families the support they need, and that they know what they are entitled to and can expect throughout pregnancy and beyond.'
