Vulnerable new mums to get 60 nurse visits

From the archive, first published Monday 23rd Apr 2007.

HEALTH workers will visit some new mums at least 60 times in the first two years of their child's life as part of a pilot scheme being launched in Southend.

South East Essex Primary Care Trust is looking for 100 families to take part in the new scheme, to be run by a team of five nurses based at Shoebury House, in Ness Road, Shoebury. The pilot has three specific goals:

The first is to persuade mothers to improve their lifestyles, including cutting down on cigarettes, alcohol or drug use.

The second is to help parents provide better childcare, and the third to help families draw up plans for the future, including further pregnancies, education and employment.

The nurses will support parents identified as being in need of additional support from pregnancy until the child's second birthday. This will work out at about 60 visits per child.

Ruth Rothman, programme supervisor, said: "I am delighted we have been chosen to pilot such an important programme.

"The early years can have the biggest impact on a child's life and for some people having a baby for the first time can be very difficult.

"That's why first time parents who are most likely to have problems, will get advice and regular visits from a trusted health visitor or midwife in the run-up to birth and during the first two years of a child's life.

"Helping parents in this way not only improves their life chances, but can have wider benefits for communities and society as a whole."

The project is being funded nationally with £7.5million of Government cash.

In America, a similar scheme has led to improved health for mother and baby, fewer childhood injuries, more mothers getting back to work and children being better prepared for school.