Child & Family Health

Just found out you're pregnant?

Congratulations! Our nearest hospital trust for maternity services is Surrey & Sussex Healthcare Trust (SASH), with maternity services in East Surrey Hospital. They link in with a community midwife who runs clinics here at Ifield Medical Practice, so you can receive your regular check-ups close to home.

To get started with maternity services, fill in the Surrey & Sussex online form. A midwife will contact you to arrange your maternity screening tests and first appointment as soon as possible.

You can find all the information you need to know about getting pregnant, being pregnant, giving birth, and caring for a newborn on the Sussex Local Maternity website.

Fill in the form here
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Health For Under 5s

The website provides health information for parents, covering important milestones in a child’s development from pregnancy through baby, toddler and preschool, as well as offering support, information and advice specifically for parents and carers. It includes a developmental timeline for early years and links to local advice and events in West Sussex.

Find out more
A photo of the Broadfield Children's Centre

Family Hubs

Family hubs offer a range of support, information and guidance to parents, carers and young people as part of Early Help.

Hubs are open for you to drop in and speak to staff Monday to Friday during opening times on a whole range of issues affecting you and your family. They also have public access computers to use, free of charge, as well as social spaces available to meet other parents.

There are two hubs in Crawley, one in Bewbush and one in Broadfield.

Better Health Start for Life

NHS Start for Life

Trusted NHS help and advice during pregnancy, birth and parenthood.

Find out more on the NHS website

Healthy Child Programme

Health Visitors and School Nurses, also known as Specialist Community Public Health Nurses, are qualified nurses or midwives who have completed additional training in public health.

Your local health visitor and school nurse team may also include staff nurses, assistant practitioners, community nursery nurses, school health assistants, health and wellbeing youth workers, and the school screening team.

To contact the health visitors (for children aged 0-5):

Parentline: Text 07312 277163. You can use this anonymous text service at any time and they will return your message within 24 hours, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm, except for bank holidays and weekends. This service is for advice and support only, please do not message to arrange or amend appointments.

Telephone: 01273 242004 (Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm, excluding bank holidays). This is for advice, support and appointments.

For school nurses (for children and young people aged 5-19):

Chat Health West Sussex: Text 07480 635424. You can text at any time and they will return your call within 24 hours, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm, except for bank holidays and weekends.

Parentline West Sussex (for parents/carers of children and young people aged 5-19): Text 07312 277011. You can text them at any time and they will return your call within 24 hours, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm, except for bank holidays and weekends.

West Sussex School Nurse advice line: Telephone 0300 303 1137, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm.

Find out more