Chat Health– local Health Visiting Team/School Nurse

Confidential help and advice for parents and carers of 0-5 years. A safe and easy way to contact your Health Visiting Team . Just send a text. 07480 635514 . Please note these numbers ONLY accept text messages not phone calls.

From the 15 June 2020, Somerset County Council Health Visiting is launching a new mobile health service to provide help and support to parents and carers in Somerset and make it easier for them to get help and advice. ChatHealth is available Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm, automatic replies will be sent to any message received out of hours. For medical help and advice outside of these hours please contact your GP or call 111.

Anyone who cares for a child aged 0-4 can receive confidential advice from a Health Visitor on a wide range of issues such as sleep, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, immunisations and general health.

Got a child 5-19 and looking for confidential help and advice? Just send a text. A safe and easy way to contact your school nursing team. Text 07480 635515

Discreet and quick. If you’re 11-19 it only takes one text to start making a difference. You’ll get confidential advice from your School Nursing Team and you don’t have to give your name if you don’t want to. Text 07480 635516

The service will be available on Monday to Friday 9am – 4.30 excluding bank holidays. During out–of–hours, anyone who texts the service will receive an automated message with advice on where to get help if their question is urgent.

Please note these numbers ONLY accept text messages not phone calls.

You can also find out how to access other local services including emotional support or sexual health services.

Messages sent to the dedicated number (07480 635060) are delivered to a secure website, and responded to by an NCH&C school nurse. Out of hours, anyone who texts the service receives a bounce back message explaining where to get help if their question is urgent, and when they can expect a response. Texts are usually replied to within one working day.

NCH&C’s school nursing team, comprising of qualified school nurses, community staff nurses and support workers, provides services to young people and their families/carers across Norfolk.

Their work includes giving advice on bullying, health, drugs, self-esteem, relationships, and sexual health. They can provide one-to-one confidential appointments, and also hold open access clinics in schools. A dedicated ‘consultation line’ is also manned Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

ChatHealth, an award-winning service originally developed for a health trust in Leicestershire, is also being introduced by several NHS health trusts in other parts of the UK.

Chris Barnett, NCH&C’s Head of Locality – City said: “With young people increasingly using technology to access services we felt ChatHealth was ideal to encourage them to engage with the team.

“It’s really important that young people feel they have someone to contact to ask questions about issues connected with their health and wellbeing, and school nurses can support them on a wide range of issues.”