Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust's Healthy Together health visiting and school nursing service has launched the Healthy Together Helpline, to enable parents, carers and eligible young people easy and swift access to support. 

The helpline, staffed by qualified health professionals, including health visitors and school nurses – as well as administrative specialists, is open to all parents and carers of babies up to primary school aged children in Leicestershire and Rutland and babies, children and young people aged 0-19 in Leicester city. 

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. Anyone who may need more specialist support can be referred to other services or professionals through the helpline too. 

Helen Thompson, director of families, young people, children, learning disability and autism services at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: "We are really excited to open this helpline and give people more access to support provided by our fantastic, compassionate professionals.

"We know that sometimes questions or concerns can arise outside appointments with our practitioners. Now there is another way for people to reach out for support and speak to someone over the phone whenever they need some guidance or help from our services. From advice around babies' sleep to moving onto solid foods, to emotional health advice for children and young people, callers can get an array of advice for non-urgent health and wellbeing topics.

"The helpline will complement our existing 'Health For' websites and innovative ChatHealth secure text messaging service. A lot of work has gone into setting up this helpline and we are proud of our dedicated team of professionals and their commitment to supporting the healthy development of children and young people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland."

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.

The helpline will complement the existing ChatHealth confidential text messaging service, available to parents and carers of children aged 0-11 in Leicestershire and parents, carers and young people aged 0-19 in Leicester city. The service can be accessed by parents and carers in Leicestershire and Rutland by texting 07520 615 382.

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

• www.healthforunder5s.co.uk
• www.healthforkids.co.uk
• www.healthforteens.co.uk

Young people aged 11 upwards in Leicestershire and Rutland can get support from the following services: 

• Leicestershire County Council's Teen Health 11-19 service, click here or call 0116 305 8727 for more information.
• Rutland County Council's Teen Health Service, click here or call 01572 758 301 for more information.

Please note the new 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.