Scheme to help vulnerable mums-to-be
VULNERABLE young mums in Doncaster are to be given extra support to help them bring up their children.
Up to 100 first-time mothers are set to have regular visits from nurses who will carry out weekly and fortnightly visits.
The project, called the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP), comes to Doncaster as the latest phase of a nationwide scheme to help and encourage parents to bring their children up in a positive environment.
In addition to visits from a midwife, nurses will visit parents from early pregnancy until the child is two-years-old, building a close, supportive relationship with the whole family, a spokesman from Doncaster Primary Care Trust said.
Four dedicated nurses will aim to help improve pre-natal health, children's health and development and encourage parents to be more economically self-sufficient.
Families will be encouraged to make active use of local community resources, including activities such as parenting groups and educational activities to help women fulfil their aspirations for their baby and themselves.
The voluntary scheme has been awarded 150,000 and will be offered to mothers aged 19 and under who live in areas including Edlington, Conisbrough, Carcroft, Mexborough, Denaby, Bentley, Toll Bar, Woodlands, Highfields and Askern.
Nationally the scheme has been taken up by 90 per cent of mothers who have been offered a place.
Suzannah Cookson of NHS Doncaster said: "The programme builds on what has already been achieved in this area and is a fantastic opportunity for nurses to spend quality time with young families and help them to be the best that they can be.
"Also, what we learn from this project can be applied to mainstream services."
The nurses will have a central base alongside local authority parenting coordinators at the Parenting Hub in Bentley.
The national project director of the FNP programme, Kate Billingham, recently visited Doncaster to meet local managers and a group of young parents who will help interview the candidates for the FNP team.
n Mums-to-be can now claim a one-off tax-free payment to help them stay healthy in the run up to giving birth.
The Government has launched a Health in Pregnancy grant which will allow pregnant women to claim 190.Every mum-to-be will get the new grant, as long as they receive health advice from a midwife or GP.
Women can claim the grant by asking their midwife for a form at their first antenatal appointment after the 25th week of pregnancy.
The completed form must be returned to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs within 31 days and the money will be paid directly into a bank or building society account.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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