Child health

Antenatal Services

The midwives are no longer based in the surgery, but are now with the Health Visitors in the Darent Valley Hospital.

If you need to refer yourself to the midwives please visit the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust.

You do not need to see the GP to be referred to the midwives if you know you are pregnant, however if you have any concerns about the pregnancy you may wish to book an appointment to see a doctor at the surgery.

Postnatal Services

Both your health visitor and midwife will be in close contact after the delivery of your baby and will give you their contact numbers. Your doctor will perform your post natal check and six to eight weeks baby check at the surgery. You will be sent an appointment for this by the surgery.

You will also receive in this letter an appointment for your baby’s first immunisation which is normally performed at about 8 weeks at the surgery, by our immunisations nurse. Also enclosed will be a registration form to register your baby at this practice.

Health Visiting Services

Health visiting services are now based at:

Joynes House
First Floor
New Road
Gravesend
DA11 0AJ

Opening Times: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Tel: 0300 123 6670

You can also contact SureStart through the website www.dcsf.gov.uk and visit “Every child matters” for information.

Immunisation Clinic

We offer a comprehensive baby and child immunisation programme according to the British schedule. For detailed information please visit NHS Choices.

New Babies

You will be sent an appointment for the first immunisation at 8 weeks and further appointments will be made by the nurse when you attend.

Newly Registered Children

You will be asked to bring in your child’s red book when you attend the first immunisation appointment. This will enable us to check your child’s immunisation status and put the information on our computer.

HPV is currently administered by school nurses in secondary school. The surgery is notified of any girls who have missed any of the doses and we will administer these at the surgery.

BCG is no longer routinely given as part of the immunisation schedule.

Whooping Cough

Pregnant ladies over 20 weeks are invited to have a whooping cough vaccination. Please phone for an appointment and information.

Download our Information Leaflet.

Useful External Links

Maternity & Babies Health

Baby Centre advice, up-to-date information and parent-to-parent support
Breast Feeding advice.
Childhood Immunisation Schedule information from NHS.
Maternity Rights
National Childbirth Trust (NCT)
Fathers Direct
Go Smoke Free

Children’s Health

ERIC – Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence
Bullying UK – help to stop bullying
Patient UK – Asthma – childhood asthma help
Eczema Society – Eczema in Schools
Diabetes.co.uk – Children and Diabetes
Parents Against Drug Abuse – The National Familes Helpline
Epilepsy Action – information for children with Epilepsy
Eat Well from the Food Standards Agency – Healthy eating advice for children
Young Minds – Charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people