Newsletter 5: Maternity Services and Services for Children, Young People and Families
June 2026
Welcome to the fifth of a series of newsletters about making the best use of local health services
These newsletters have been produced in partnership with the Practice’s Patient Participation Group.
This newsletter focuses on Maternity Services and Services for Children, Young People and Families. You can refer yourself to many of these services without needing to make a GP appointment first.
Use the links in each section below (underlined) to find more information.
Maternity Services
If you have recently found out you are pregnant, you can refer yourself to the Maternity Service by visiting the Healthier Together website.
The Healthier Together website includes information on:
- Planning a pregnancy
- Early pregnancy and common symptoms
- Antenatal appointments and screening
- Vaccinations in pregnancy
- Keeping well during pregnancy
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Birth planning and choices
- Pain relief and what happens during labour
- When to seek help or urgent advice
- Care after birth, including recovery and feeding your baby.
Services for children, young people and families
Best Start Family Hubs
Dorset Council’s Best Start Family Hub Website has lots of information to support parents, including:
- The support available for babies, toddlers, school aged children and young people
- How to find childcare
- How to get the EasyPeasy Parenting App for free
- All the services available to support families at the Swanage Family Hub.
Health Visiting Service
The Health Visiting Service works with children and families to promote health and wellbeing from 28 weeks of pregnancy until five years of age. Information about the services they provide can be found on their website at: Health Visiting Service, where you can also find lots of helpful advice - including recommended resources and apps.
You can contact your local Health Visiting Team on 01929 557593 or by email at: Dhc.hvhub.east@nhs.net.
The Health Visiting Team also runs a drop-in Well Baby Clinic at the Swanage Family Hub on Wednesday mornings.
ParentLine is a confidential text messaging service for parents and carers of children aged 0-5 in Dorset. Text 07312 277162 for confidential advice from a member of the Health Visiting Team about your child’s health and development. The service is available 9:00am-5:00pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Go to the NHS website for advice on Looking after a sick child and How to tell if your baby or toddler is seriously ill.
The Healthier Together website also includes advice to help parents and carers decide what to do when babies, children or young people are unwell.
School Nursing Service
The School Nursing Service works with children, families, schools and other agencies to support the health and wellbeing of school-age children across Dorset. Information about the services they provide can be found on their website at: School Nursing Service, where you can also find lots of helpful advice - including recommended resources and apps for parents and young people.
You can request school nursing support by completing the form on their website.
ParentLine 5-19 is a confidential text messaging service for parents and carers of children and young people aged 5-19 in Dorset. Text 07312 263131 for confidential advice and support from a member of the School Nursing Team about your child's health and development. The service is available 9:00am-4:00pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays and school holidays).
ChatHealth is a confidential text messaging service for young people aged 11-19 (Year 7 and above) in Dorset. Text 07480 635511 for confidential advice from your School Nursing Team. The service is available Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4.30pm (including school holidays, but not bank holidays).
Speech and Language Therapy (Children and Young People)
The Children and Young People’s Speech and Language Therapy Service works with children, young people, their families and other professionals to support those with speech, language and communication needs. Information about the service can be found on their website at: Children and Young People’s Speech and Language Therapy Service.
Every school has a Link Therapist, who works with the school to support children with their speech, language and communication. Please talk to the school if you have any concerns.
If your child has not yet started school and you are worried about their speech, language or communication, you can book an advice session with one of the Speech and Language Therapists by phone on 01202 443200 or by email at: dhc.slt.queries@nhs.net. This service is available at the Swanage Family Hub.
Mental Health and Emotional Support Services for Children and Young People
Dorset Youth's Mental Health Hub provides information about all the services available in Dorset to help children and young people aged under 18 experiencing problems with their mental health, including information about how to access help in an emergency.
It also includes information about the RUOK? (Are you OK?) Campaign, which aims to ensure that children and young people in Dorset always know where they can go to get support in a way that works best for them:
- Call: Children and young people can phone NHS Connection, the free 24/7 Mental Health Helpline, on 0800 652 0190. Samaritans are also always on hand to listen on 116 123.
- Text: Children and young people can get free, confidential mental health support any time, day or night, by texting SHOUT to 85258 - this is a free confidential text messaging service.
- Chat: Young people aged 11 to 18 years can also get free, safe and anonymous online wellbeing support at kooth.com, a wellbeing community with live chat.
- Search: Children and young people can find more local support with their mental health and emotional wellbeing at Dorset Youth's Mental Health Hub.
CAMHS – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
CAMHS offers specialist support to children and young people aged up to the age of 18 (and their families/carers) who are suffering significant mental health difficulties. More information about the services offered can be found on the Dorset HealthCare website at: CAMHS.
The CAMHS Gateway acts as the “Front Door” to the service in Dorset - young people aged 16-18 years can refer themselves to the service by completing the. CAMHS self-referral form.