News & Updates

Please follow this link for information regarding the National Lockdown 'Stay at Home' guidance 
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Updated guidance from Unicef for Professionals - women who are breastfeeding and the Covid-19 vaccine

To continue to support health professionals to provide care for babies, their mothers and families during the ongoing pandemic, UNICEF have updated their Covid-19 resource and guidance page with new guidance on how to discuss the Covid-19 vaccine with women who are breastfeeding (see FAQ #14).

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A message from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

This is a worrying time for everyone with coronavirus in the UK. You may be concerned about accessing NHS services but if you are concerned that your child is unwell it is still important to seek medical advice. There are lots of ways you can do this:

• Many GP surgeries are offering video consultations.
• NHS 111 service offers advice if your child is unwell.
• For general advice about child health and development and infant feeding the Health Visiting service continues to offer the Chat Health Text messaging advice service: 0752 061 2570 .
• Healthier Together is a useful source of information about childhood illness and when to seek advice.
• Accident and Emergency departments in an emergency.

Covid-19 Schools Update - National Lockdown information

Hampshire County Council have released information to parents and carers regarding Early Years and School settings during the National Lockdown:
Early Years and Schools information
There is also Government information regarding increasing data allowances on mobile phones to support disavantaged children:
Mobile Phone Data Allowance
 

School-Age Immunisation services to resume from 7th September

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust's immunisation teams will be back in schools from Monday 7th September. The aim is to pick up where they left off with the national HPV vaccination programme. Parents are being advised to contact their school for more information on the catch-up dates.

The Trust will also be working within the Public Health England guidelines for the Flu vaccination programme. This will deliver the free, annual Flu nasal spray to children from Year R to Year 7. Parents and carers will be sent a letter with full instructions how to access information through the new electronic consent system.

The plan is to run clinics between September and December throughout Hampshire schools. Each school setting will be able to advise you of when the clinics will be. Parents of children with underlying health problems should seek advice from their GP.

This year, helping to protect children against flu is particularly important if COVID-19 is still circulating because people at risk from flu are also vulnerable to the complications of COVID-19. It will reduce the chance of others in the family, who could be at greater risk from flu, such as grandparents or those with long term health conditions.

The SAI team will be adhering to infection control policy and guidance to wearing PPE, whilst maintaining social distancing at all sessions. Staff have hand wash facilities in place which includes the use of hand gel and each workstation will be cleaned before the session starts, after each vaccination and closing at the end.

Whilst we understand that parents will be likely to be informed about the Flu Vaccination, children may feel worried or afraid, please visit the  NHS website or the Hampshire Healthy Families immunisation information page below for resources and information.
    School Age Immunisations   

Child Health Advice Clinics Suspended

From Wednesday 18th March 2020 all Child Health Advice Clinics across Hampshire will be suspended until further notice. See poster for further details.

Please follow this link for support and advice relating to the latest public health campaigns
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Useful resources for parents during COVID-19

Barnardo's have produced  a list of resources and links  to help with supporting children’s understanding with COVID-19, and suggest play experiences and activities for children. Includes a link to the free 'Nurse Dotty' book for children titled "Dave the Dog is worried about Coronavirus".

Get the latest information and advice about COVID-19 from the NHS website .

The NHS have a handy emergency treatment guide showing parents when and who to contact if your child is ill or injured during the current COVID-19 situation.

Hampshire Constabulary detail  partner organisations who can help if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, or telephone the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Aurora New Dawn is a Hampshire charity which has set up a new domestic abuse COVID-19 helpline that is available 24/7: 02394 216816.   

The Lullaby Trust offer advice about pregnancy and caring for your baby throughout the current COVID-19 situation.

The Institute of Health Visiting has some tips on how to cope with a crying baby during COVID-19.

Advice on stopping smoking #QuitforCovid .

Diabetes UK have an online tool  to help calculate your risk of developing the condition Type 2 diabetes by answering a series of basic questions including age, weight and ethnicity.

The Hampshire Health Visiting team have produced a COVID-19 guide to Infant Feeding Support .

YSS run a ' Skills4Life ' project aimed at women aged 18 years and over, who provide free, impartial, financial training around issues such as debt, managing finances and budgeting, and CV/interview skills. Although based in West Mercia, Skills4Life are currently able to assist Hampshire families remotely via Zoom and telephone calls - read more here .

Family wellbeing and mental health resources

Barnardo's have produced  a list of resources and links  to help with supporting children’s understanding with COVID-19, and suggest play experiences and activities for children. Includes a link to the free 'Nurse Dotty' book for children titled "Dave the Dog is worried about Coronavirus".

Southern Health have produced a COVID-19 Family Wellbeing pack to support families' mental health at this time.

Every Mind Matters have a range of tips and advice on maintaining mental wellbeing while at home.

Mentally Healthy Schools have created a toolkit with resources, signposting and helplines to support parents with talking about Coronavirus and the impact on children's mental health.

Mental health support is now available 24/7 via the NHS 111 helpline - dial 111 and ask to speak to a mental health nurse.

For parent mental health support please contact your Health Visitor or GP. You can also find further information available regarding NHS Mental Health Services.

Healthwatch provide a list of mental health support services for parents in need.

DorPIP provide online resources specifically aimed at mental health support for dads.

The Samaritans also provide a listening service throughout the year, as well as a self-help app.

Please also see our Children and Young People and Adult specialist support pages for further mental health information and resources.

Help is out there for children and young people living with domestic abuse

Is someone in your family hurting someone else? If abuse is happening at home, you probably want it to stop but you might not be sure what you can do. The best thing to do is to tell someone what is going on. You might be able to talk to the person who is being hurt. If not, you could try talking to a teacher, a neighbour, a friend or a friend’s parent.

You can also call a helpline – they will be able to tell you where you can get help near where you live.

Remember, domestic abuse is not your fault. You won’t get into trouble for telling someone.

If someone in your family is hurting someone else, it’s important to get help:

Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service Advice Line 03300 165 112 weekdays 9.30am-5.30pm (5pm Fridays).

Childline is available for children and young people to reach out for help and support by phone or using their online chat service. They also provide specific guidance for young people on how to get help and what to do if they are worried about a friend. Telephone: 0800 1111.

The NSPCC has issued guidance for spotting and reporting the signs of abuse on their website. The NSPCC Helpline is available for anyone with concerns about a child to contact for professional advice and support. Telephone: 0808 800 5000. Email: help@nspcc.org.uk .

Barnardo’s provides support to families affected by domestic abuse.

Family Lives also provide support through online forums.

STOPtober - How you can quit during Covid-19

The evidence on smoking and coronavirus (COVID-19) is mixed and developing. On the available evidence, we advise:

• if you smoke, you generally have an increased risk of contracting respiratory infection and of more severe symptoms once infected. COVID-19 symptoms may, therefore, be more severe if you smoke
• stopping smoking will bring immediate benefits to your health, including if you have an existing smoking-related disease. This is particularly important for both you and for our NHS at a time of intense pressure on the health service
• e-cigarettes (vapes) can be an effective aid to stopping smoking and staying smokefree
• it is currently unknown what effect vaping may have on susceptibility to severe disease if you are infected with COVID-19
• for most people vaping remains significantly less harmful than smoking and it is very important that you avoid returning to smoking
• visit  Smokefree  for information and advice on stopping smoking

Please visit Gov.uk for more advice

Covid-19: Advice for Smokers   Smoke Free Hampshire