Vitamin boost for pregnant women in Greenwich

Healthy start launch photo
Deptford mum Anais Poissonnier and her daughter Lyana with the Healthy Vitamins at the launch event at the Robert Owen Sure Start Children’s Centre, Greenwich.

Oxleas is working with NHS Greenwich and Greenwich Children’s Centres in a bid to help improve the care provided to pregnant women in the borough.

Under the pilot, eligible women and children living in Greenwich will now be able to get their free supply of NHS Healthy Start vitamins from seven participating Sure Start Children’s Centres in the borough, as well as from health centres and baby clinics already supplying them.

Healthy Start logo

In order to qualify for Healthy Start vitamins, a woman must be at least 10 weeks pregnant, or have a child under four-years-old, be in receipt of certain benefits or Child Tax Credit and have a family income of £16,190 a year or less.

All pregnant women under the age of 18 also qualify, even if they don’t receive any benefits or tax credits.

The pilot will run for six months initially, and may be rolled-out further if it is successful.

Healthy Start vitamins will now be available from the following health centres and Sure Start Children’s Centres:

  • Wallace Health Centre, Clarence Road, Deptford, SE8 3BU. Tel: 020 8469 1136/1137
  • Vanbrugh Health Centre, Vanbrugh Hill, Greenwich. Tel: 020 8312 8999
  • Quaggy Children’s Centre Lewisham Road, Lewisham, SE13 7QP. Tel: 020 8465 9785
  • Robert Owen Children’s Centre, 43 Commerell Street, Greenwich, SE10 0EA. Tel: 020 8858 0529
  • Gallions Reach Health Centre Bentham Road, Thamesmead, SE28 8BE. Tel: 020 8320 5718/5727
  • Abbey Wood Clinic, 138 Eynsham Drive, Abbey Wood, SE2 9PT.Tel: 020 8310 8536
  • Plumstead Health Centre, Tewson Road, Plumstead, SE18 1BH.Tel: 020 8317 6300 Extension 6
  • Brookhill Children’s Centre Brookhill Road, Woolwich, SE18 6UZ. Tel: 020 8319 5320
  • The Discovery Children’s Centre Battery Road, Thamesmead, SE28 0JN. Tel: 020 8855 4320
  • Kidbrooke Clinic, 10 Telemann Square, Kidbrooke, SE3 9YR.Tel: 020 8856 9111
  • Fairfield Health Centre Fairfield Grove, Charlton, SE7 8TX.Tel. 020 8305 3044/41
  • Manor Brook Medical Centre117 Brook Lane, Kidbrooke, SE3 OEN. Tel. 020 8856  9731
  • Storkway Children’s Centre Ridgebrook Road, Kidbrooke, SE3 9QX. Tel. 020 8331 1970
  • Alderwood Children’s Centre Rainham Close, Eltham, SE9 2JH. Tel. 020 8850 5927
  • Vista Field Children’s Centre Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, SE9 5SD. Tel. 020 8859 1110

Extra vitamins during pregnancy and in children’s early years can help to improve the health of children, pregnant women and new mothers, and provide enough nutrition to help prevent illness in the future.

Healthy Start vitamin supplements contain the recommended daily amounts of vitamins C, D and folic acid for pregnant women and new mothers, and vitamins A, C and D for babies.

Dr Hilary Guite, Director of Public Health for NHS Greenwich, said:

“Healthy Start vitamins are strongly recommended for all pregnant and breastfeeding women. It is very important for women to start taking folate, vitamin C and vitamin D as early as possible in pregnancy.

“These supplements are a good way of helping to make sure both mothers and babies have the right levels of nutrients to ensure they both stay healthy. Whilst a healthy diet can provide the majority of nutrients needed, Healthy Start vitamins will ensure that pregnant women, babies and young children get extra healthy supplements.”

Janet Blake, Infant Feeding Adviser at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust added:

“Children’s centres provide an ideal place for distributing Healthy Start vitamins locally. By making them more widely available, in places where our families often visit, we hope to improve the take-up amongst those who need them most”.

Healthy Start vitamins are part of the national NHS Healthy Start scheme which aims to improve the health of pregnant women and families on benefits or low income.

Healthy Start vitamins are also available to buy at a reduced cost for families who are not eligible for the scheme.

For more information about Healthy Start, visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk or call the Healthy Start helpline on 0845 607 6823. Alternatively contact your local midwifery or Health Visiting Team.

For more information on breastfeeding in Greenwich go to www.greenwichbreastfeeding.com.

Greenwich's network of 24 Sure Start Children’s Centres offer all round care and support through a range of core services which include health advice, early years education, parenting advice and affordable childcare along with special services for families with additional needs. 

For more information visit www.greenwich.gov.uk/childrenscentres or call Greenwich Council's Families Information Service on 020 8921 6921.