Health

There are a range of health services available to families in the Sure Start Preston East area which include:

Midwifery

If you are a mum-to-be, our midwife, Suzette Hall, can come to visit you in your home and give you information on Sure Start and the services that are available for you to use.

Extra help and support is available for those families that need it, before and after the birth of their baby.

If you are pregnant and:

would like to be PAMPERED, chat and share ideas with other pregnant ladies, we have a group called Young Mums to Be. You can find out how your baby is learning before birth, whilst having a manicure or Indian head massage. Free Gifts are also given!

When your baby has been born:

you can join our Early Days group – a chance to meet other new mums and get advice about caring for your new baby. A relaxing chat and brew in the hectic first months with baby.

we run baby massage classes, which help you and baby to relax, improves bonding, and gives you pleasure, enjoyment and confidence in handling your baby.

If you need help and support with breastfeeding, Suzette will come out to visit you and give advice and tips

Smoking Cessation

Smoking is the single largest cause of health related problems.
Smoking not only harms you but also the people around you.
Breathing in second –hand smoke increases the risk of smoking related diseases to non-smokers up by 30%.

Children are especially vulnerable because their lungs are much smaller and smoke can increase cot death in babies and asthma in children as well as other lung disease and middle ear infections.
Anyone who smokes during pregnancy is increasing the risk of complications and damage to their babies health, carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke reduces the amount of oxygen the baby receives.

For anyone who wants to stop smoking, there is a FREE Stop Smoking Service providing one to one appointments at the Childrens Centre, at a time that is convenient to you.

You can contact the service free 0800 328 6297.

At the appointment, the advisors will discuss the various aspects of stopping smoking, and will measure your carbon monoxide levels using a breath sample.

The advisor will show you samples of Nicotine Replacement Therapies that are available on prescription and arrange these for you. You will be invited back for extra support for as long as you need it.

SureStart Preston East Children's Centre has set up a project to protect your children from the effects of second-hand smoke. Anyone can sign the promise to ban or restrict smoking in the home - by doing this you immediately reduce the risk to your family.

For more details on any aspects of stopping smoking contact the Children's Centre on 01772 790 810.

Family Support

Bringing up a family is the most important job anyone can do. We recognise that it is also the most difficult, particularly in the early years.

The difficulties are varied and can range from feelings of isolation, debt problems, relationship problems and uncertainties around a child’s development to postnatal depression.

The family support team maintains contact with families through regular home visits to offer emotional and practical support.

The service that we provide is non judgmental and focuses heavily on supporting parents to find their own solutions and plan for their future.

Members of the family support team offer:

Parenting advice

• Support in developing techniques and routines to make bedtimes, mealtimes and potty training less stressful for parents and children.

• An opportunity to attend parenting workshops with crèche facilities. Here you can discuss issues that are relevant to you with other parents in a similar position and find solutions.

Emotional Support

Act as a listening ear.

Practical Support

• Putting you in touch with other services and supporting you if necessary to get there.

• Introducing you to local parent and toddler groups where you can develop friendships while your children play with others in the same age group.

To request family support:

• You can contact Sure Start Preston East Children's Centre direct on 01772 790810 or ask any other person to contact us on your behalf. This can be a professional such as your health visitor, doctor, neighbour, friend or relative.

• After contacting Sure Start Preston East Children's Centre, you will be visited by the Family Support Team. The team will talk to you about family support and other services offered by the Sure Start and together you will develop a plan of support. If you feel that you would benefit from regular home visits, an appointment will be made to introduce you to a family support worker that best suits your needs.

• The family support worker will work at your pace to support you to address the needs that were discussed at the initial visit and any other issues that may arise.

• Home visits are reviewed every six to eight weeks. This involves a visit by the Senior Community Family Worker to establish how well your needs are being met and how you have been getting on with your family support worker.

• After the review it will be agreed whether or not family support will continue. There is no limit to the amount of weeks that you can receive support, it will continue until there is no longer a need.

The family support team are friendly, down to earth, supportive and simply interested in supporting you to support yourself.

If you would like a chat about anything that is causing you concern in relation to family life, relationships, debt, parenting, getting back into education, returning to employment or if your feeling low in mood and unsure where to turn, please contact the Children's Centre on 01772 790810.