West London NHS Trust (WLT) has begun a contract to run Hounslow’s 0-19 Service, which is responsible for delivering the Healthy Child Programme in the borough.
Published: Monday, 4th November 2024
The new contract, between WLT and London Borough of Hounslow Council, took effect on 1 October. Previously, the Healthy Child Programme in Hounslow was delivered by Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare (HRCH). With all Community Services in Hounslow having transferred from HRCH to WLT from 1 July, the Trust will now take over the running of the services.
What is the 0-19 Service?
The 0-19 Service includes Health Visitors, Family Nurses, Nursery Nurses, and School Nurses. It supports young people and their families by providing health interventions from pregnancy to the end of school.
Health Visitors support families and children up to the start of school. They provide support in a range of areas including feeding, emotional support and childhood immunisations. You can watch a video that further explains health visiting in Hounslow here.
Family, Nursery and School Nurses will also support young families throughout their child’s early years, meaning children will be supported by the 0-19 service right up to the start of adulthood.
Dr Christopher Hilton, Chief Operating Officer, Local and Specialist Services, West London NHS Trust said:
“In the few months since West London NHS Trust became responsible for Hounslow Community Healthcare services, I have been particularly impressed to meet our teams supporting children, young people and families in the borough. The universal and targeted support they provide gives each young person the best start in life. The teams also work closely in step with our perinatal mental health services supporting parents, and our children and young people’s mental health services in schools.
“The collaborative work that has gone on between the specialist teams and the Council to modernise and enhance the service specifications together is remarkable, and it is great we have reached this point of relaunching the 0-19 service. This is testament to the partnership work we do in the borough to move towards consistently outstanding services for everyone.”
Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills and Employment, London Borough of Hounslow Council, said: “As someone who has worked closely with local NHS colleagues over a number of years, I know how hard they all work to deliver outstanding support to all our young residents, and I’m delighted that our children’s health services are in such good hands.
“The whole 0-19 Service has been delivering outstanding health outcomes for Hounslow’s children for many years and I know that won’t change. From our health visitors, who support families from before a child is born up to the start of school, to the school nurses who then pick up the mantle, and everyone else involved, I can’t speak highly enough of the work they do.”
“I wish everyone involved the best of luck with new contract and I can’t wait to hear more success stories from our children and families in Hounslow.”
Find out more
- There is further information about the Health Visiting Service on the Healthier Together website and the West London NHS Trust website.
- You can also call the health visitor line on 0208 973 3490, open Monday to Friday from 9am until 4pm.
- You can get in touch with your child’s school nurse via the ParentLine by texting 07312 263080, open Monday to Friday from 9am until 4:30pm. This service is confidential.
