Live ChatThe role of a Health Visitor
Where can we help
How can we help?
How you can access the service
How do we work?
Useful resources
The role of a Health Visitor
Health Visitors are registered Nurses or Midwives who have undertaken additional training to become Specialist Community Public Health Nurses. They work with families to give babies and pre-school children the best start in life, as we know that the first years of life are a foundation for future health and wellbeing.
We work closely with other members of the Community Health Team and the Primary Health Care Team to make sure that all parents and children can access the most appropriate services for their health and wellbeing.
Where can we help?
Health Visitors see people at home, in the Medical Centre, in Early Years settings, in Family Hubs at Well Baby Clinics and remotely by telephone or VTC.
How can we help?
- Transition to parenthood
- Well Baby Clinic
- Babies and children's growth and development including speech, language and communication and readiness for school
- Supporting babies and children with additional needs
- Managing minor illnesses
- Advice on conditions, allergies and infections
- Breastfeeding, bottle feeding, weaning, nutrition and maintaining a healthy weight
- Postnatal depression and mum's and dad's mental and physical health
- Behaviour issues - e.g. sleeping, eating, potty training, tantrums
- Support with parenting
- Family planning
- Family health and relationships
- Teething and good dental health
- Health promotion
- Community health
- Children’s emotional wellbeing
How you can access the service
Health Visitors will contact all families, with children under 5 years, at the following times
- After you arrive in Cyprus and register at the Medical Centre (you must also register with SSAFA, through the Med Centre to access the Health Visitor)
- Between 28-32 weeks of pregnancy
- With a new baby between 10-14 days
- When your baby is between 6-8 weeks old
- When your baby is between 10-12 months of age
- When your child is between 2 and 2 1/2 years of age
- For Childhood Immunisations
Please also see our contact telephone numbers on this page.
How do we work?
Health Visitors working with families in British Forces Cyprus follow UK guidance and best practice which is detailed in the Healthy Child Programme and where possible will offer the service that you would normally expect to get in England.
We offer a Universal Service, which means that we offer our service to all families who have children under 5 years of age.
Useful Resources
Healthy Child Programme: Pregnancy and the First 5 Years of Life
Early years high impact area 1: Supporting the transition to parenthood