THE HEALTH VISITORS

We have two Health Visitors based at the surgery who job-share – Helen Oldale and Genevieve Young.

Their direct telephone number is 01289 356952, if no-one is available you can leave a message on the answering machine which is checked regularly (Monday to Thursday between 8.30am to 5pm). There is no Health Visitor on Fridays.

Both Helen and Genevieve work with families with pre-school children, endeavouring to give support and information.

Helen Oldale

Helen trained at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and qualified as an RGN in 1981 and then continued to work at Ninewells Hospital as a Staff Nurse. Following a move to Edinburgh in 1983, she qualified as a Nurse Lecturer in 1987.

After having her own family Helen then trained as Health Visitor in Edinburgh and qualified in 1995.

Helen moved to Berwick in 1999 where she has worked as a Health Visitor at both Tweedmouth Clinic and Union Brae and Norham Practice. She also specialises in stop smoking work.

Helen normally works on Tuesday mornings and all day Wednesdays.

Genevieve Young

Genevieve trained at Glasgow Caledonian University and qualified as an RN in 1995. She then continued to work as a Staff Nurse at the Southern General Hospital.

After moving to Berwick in 1997, Genevieve worked at Berwick Infirmary before leaving in 2003 to become a Health Visitor Staff Nurse at Tweedmouth Clinic. She qualified as a Health Visitor in 2005 and went to work at Wooler.

Genevieve moved to Union Brae and Norham Practice in 2007 and works Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

THE NURSERY NURSE

We have a nursery nurse at the surgery – Karen Agar:

Karen

Karen trained as a Nursery Nurse in Edinburgh and has worked with parents and children in many areas of childcare.

Karen works with the Health Visitors at the weekly clinics and carries out developmental assessments. She also supports parents and children in the areas of development and behaviour.

The Health Visiting Service and Useful Information

The Health Visitors aim to contact all pregnant women during their pregnancy to introduce the health visiting service. Parents are given the parent-held child health record and asked to take it with them whenever their child goes to see any health professional so that the record can be as complete as possible. Home visits are offered to mothers with newborn babies up to the baby’s sixth week. All first-time parents are given the Birth to Five book which has a wealth of valuable information on child health. Parents are invited to bring their children to the child health clinics for developmental checks and immunisations.

Child Health Clinics

Union Brae Surgery

There is a clinic at Union Brae on Tuesday afternoons which is appointments only for immunisations and routine checks. The appointments are made by the surgery so if you are unable to attend an appointment or wish to make an appointment you should contact them. There is a Doctor in attendance at these clinics.

Norham Surgery

At Norham Surgery on the second Thursday of each month there is a clinic between 9.00am to 10.00am during which routine immunisations will be given. This clinic is for appointments only and there will be a Doctor in attendance.

Between 9.30am and 11.00am on this day there is a drop-in clinic to give parents an opportunity to have the baby weighed and discuss any concerns.

Other Clinics

On Wednesday afternoons (between 1.00pm and 3.00pm) the Health Visitors run a drop-in clinic at SureStart Childrens Centre, Ladywell Place. There is also a drop-in clinic at Holy Trinity School, Bell Tower Place on Thursday mornings (between 10.30am and 12 noon).

At these clinics the Health Visitors offer advice relating to pre-school child health, development and behaviour, and parenting issues as well as weight checks. There is no Doctor in attendance at these clinics.

Development and Surveillance Programme

6 to 8 weeks	Carried out by Health Visitor and Doctor
4 months	Carried out by a member of the health visiting team
1 years	Carried out by Health Visitor
27 months	Carried out by Health Visitor

If you have a worry about your child’s health, progress or behaviour you can contact the health visitor at any time – you do not have to wait until the next check is due.

The Health Visitor’s training enables her to discuss issues relating to the health of the whole family eg postnatal depression, relationship issues, bereavement etc. For any family concerns please contact the health visitor on her direct line – 01289 356952.

Immunisations

These are given routinely against some diseases. It is important to remember that these diseases can kill and that immunisation is a way of protecting your child.

Immunisation Schedule

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough), Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) Polio Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)	Two months
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib Polio Meningitis C	Three months
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib Polio Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) Meningitis C	Four months
Hib Meningitis C	Around twelve months
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (German Measles) – MMR Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)	Around 13 months
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis Polio MMR	Three years four months to five years
Tetanus and Diphtheria Polio	Thirteen to eighteen years

Injections are given in the thigh. If the child is unwell, has a fever on the day of immunisation, or has had complications after a previous vaccine, talk to the health visitor or doctor about this.

For some advice and useful links to other Websites see below:

For information about meningitis you can visit the Meningitis Research Foundation’s Website

For information about immunisation you can visit the Immunisation Website

Back

Next

Debbie McLeman November 2008