Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s (LPT) Healthy Together Helpline is celebrating its second birthday by taking a record number of calls from parents and carers across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The helpline, run by LPT’s Healthy Together health visiting and school nursing service, is open to all parents and carers of babies right up to primary school aged children in Leicestershire and Rutland – and to parents and carers of babies, children and young people aged 0-19 in Leicester city.

The service, which launched in July 2023, is staffed by health visitors, school nurses and other qualified professionals – and answers around 4,000 calls every month.

Callers can get easy to access, safe, free and confidential advice, support and signposting on a range of health, developmental and mental and emotional wellbeing topics affecting families including:

  • feeding and nutrition for babies
  • healthy eating
  • child development
  • emotional health
  • behaviour difficulties and parenting concerns
  • family health
  • and much more.

Callers can also get help with booking and rearranging appointments with the Healthy Together service.

Colin Cross, deputy director of families, young people, children, learning disability and autism services at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “I am really proud of the compassionate team behind the helpline and how they have made a difference to so many families since setting up the service two years ago.

“Since taking their first call, the service has helped thousands of parents and carers with non-urgent concerns about their child’s health, wellbeing and development. The helpline is a reassuring resource that parents and carers can turn to whenever they need it, rather than having to wait for their next appointment with their health visitor or school nurse.

“The service is also helping to take pressure off busy hospital and GP services by giving parents and carers a place to turn to for preventative advice and support for non-urgent or serious medical issues.”

Feedback from callers

The helpline regularly seeks feedback from callers to improve its offer and frequently gets positive comments from those who use the service. Recent callers to the helpline have said:

“The response time was great; I did not have to wait very long for my call to be answered. The information I got was clear and concise.  The staff are so friendly and helpful.”

“I am a first-time parent. I always feel so supported when I contact the helpline. I feel really happy with this service and I have called several times for advice. Staff in clinics always remind me to contact the helpline if I have questions. I am always made to feel my worries are important and I am extremely happy with the service.”

“The person I spoke to was really helpful, knowledgeable, and put me at ease.  It’s really good that we have the helpline so that we can ask for advice when we need too.”

The Healthy Together Helpline can be reached by calling 0300 300 3001. Calls are answered from 9am – 4.30pm on weekdays throughout the year, excluding bank holidays. Calls are charged at the same rate as calling a standard landline number.

More health and wellbeing advice for parents, carers and young people can be found on the following websites:

Please note the helpline is not an emergency service: always ensure you call 999 or go to A&E if you are in an emergency and there is a threat to life. Call NHS 111 or visit NHS 111 online if you need immediate medical help.