Derbyshire Family Health Service

Derbyshire Family Health Service Supporting Derbyshire children, young people and families with health, wellbeing and NHS advice. To speak to our team tel. Closed bank holidays. Thank you

no. 01246 515100 (Mon-Fri, 9am - 4.30pm). If you need urgent medical advice please contact your own GP, out of hours service - NHS 111, or in an emergency, call an ambulance or attend your local Emergency Department. House rules:

We ask everyone to remember this is a family page and to abide by social media rules. We welcome all comments and opinions, but ask everyone to be polite and respectful

to one another. Comments that include content deemed to be abusive, offensive, sexist, racist, trolling or contain bad language will be removed. Anyone who persistently posts such content will be blocked from the page. We sincerely hope this will never happen so we can be an open, honest and respectful online community.

If you have just found out your child's school place, now is a good time to check they are up to date with their vaccina...
17/04/2026

If you have just found out your child's school place, now is a good time to check they are up to date with their vaccinations. Illnesses like measles and whooping cough can be serious, so to check for any missed vaccines, look in your child’s red book or speak to your GP practice.

Get more information and see the full childhood vaccination schedule here: www.nhs.uk/childhoodvaccinations

[Image description: A child wearing a yellow rain hat and wrapped in bubble wrap stands in a soft play area. Bold yellow text reads: “Wrap your children up with the best protection – vaccinations.” Below, a yellow box with black text says: “Stay strong. Get vaccinated.” Logos for the UK Government and NHS appear at the top.]

Today, many families in Derbyshire will receive their child’s primary or infant school place offer. It’s an exciting mil...
16/04/2026

Today, many families in Derbyshire will receive their child’s primary or infant school place offer. It’s an exciting milestone as children get ready to take the next step in their learning journey.

As you prepare for them starting, it’s also a good time to make sure your child is well and ready to start school. Simple steps now can help them feel confident and ready for the classroom.

Things to think about include:
• Booking an eye test with an optician if your child hasn’t had one recently
• Think about your childs hearing, while screening isn't routine it can be a good idea to check your child can hear well
• Encouraging good routines such as regular sleep, healthy meals and brushing teeth twice a day
• Helping your child practise skills like using the toilet independently, washing their hands, getting dressed and putting their shoes and coat on

Starting school is a big change for children and families, but a planning ahead can help make the transition smoother and support your child to have a happy, healthy start to school life.

You can find out more about preparing your pre-schooler on our website: https://derbyshirefamilyhealthservice.nhs.uk/our-services/0-5-years/pre-school-
3-5-years or the starting school page: https://derbyshirefamilyhealthservice.nhs.uk/our-services/5-10-years/starting-school

[Image description: A young child sat on a carpet trying to put on a white sock, with black school shoes and another sock nearby. "Preparing for starting school" title and Derbyshire Family Health Service logo.]

As the weather warms up, it’s lovely to open windows and balcony doors and let fresh air in, but it’s also a time to tak...
15/04/2026

As the weather warms up, it’s lovely to open windows and balcony doors and let fresh air in, but it’s also a time to take extra care. Toddlers and young children are naturally curious, and open windows or balconies can quickly become dangerous. Too often, children fall and suffer serious injuries. In fact, every day, a child under ten is admitted to hospital after falling from a building.

Here are some simple ways to help keep children safe:
• Keep furniture away from windows to prevent climbing
• Install window limiters to make sure windows can’t open wide enough for a child to fit through (If you have window locks always keep keys somewhere you can find them in emergencies)
• Always supervise young children around open windows and balconies
• Never leave a child alone in a room with an open window or door leading to a balcony

A few small precautions can make a big difference. Let’s enjoy the warmer weather safely.

For more falls safety advice: https://capt.org.uk/resource-topic/falls/

[Image description: A young child in a green shirt reaches up to open a window. The text "Window safety" and the Derbyshire Family Health Service logo appear in the top right corner.]

Derbyshire primary age school place notifications arrive on 16 April 2026 - a great reminder to build strong routines wi...
13/04/2026

Derbyshire primary age school place notifications arrive on 16 April 2026 - a great reminder to build strong routines with your little one.

For under 5s, simple habits make a big difference: brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, keeping sugary snacks low and visiting the dentist regularly.

Young children need to be supervised when brushing. Let them hold the toothbrush and practise positioning it as this helps them develop good technique, this will help to learn how to brush effectively as they grow.

Healthy routines now help make the move to school smoother and support confident, happy smiles.

[Image description: A young child with blond hair in a blue striped shirt brushes teeth in a bright bathroom, Derbyshire Family Health Service logo top right.]

09/04/2026

Talking and singing with children from an early age can make a big difference to their speech and language development.

When you chat, sing or read with a child, you’re helping them hear new words, learn how conversations work and build confidence using their own voice. Everyday moments like getting dressed, walking to nursery or tidying up toys are great opportunities to talk together.

Singing is especially helpful because the rhythm, repetition and actions help children remember words and sounds. Nursery rhymes and simple songs can support listening skills and encourage children to join in, even before they can say all the words clearly.

A few simple ideas to try:
• Narrate what you’re doing during everyday activities
• Pause in songs or rhymes to let children fill in the missing word
• Repeat favourite songs and stories
• Encourage children to copy sounds, actions and words

Most importantly, enjoy the time together. When children see that communication is fun and valued, they’re more likely to join in and develop their speech and language skills.

[Video description: A parent with a toddler sat on their lap reading and enjoying a story book. Derbyshire Family Health Service logo is in the top right hand corner.].

The UK government is proposing new plans to protect children and young people from the harms of va**ng. This includes pr...
08/04/2026

The UK government is proposing new plans to protect children and young people from the harms of va**ng. This includes proposals to make more places smoke and v**e-free, especially near schools, playgrounds and in cars with children present. The aim is to reduce exposure to second-hand vapour and discourage young people from picking up the habit in the first place.

These changes are part of the wider To***co and Vapes Bill, which also looks at how va**ng products are sold, displayed and advertised - all with the view to appeal less to under-18s.

We’ll share updates as the guidance is finalised, but the focus right now is clear: protecting children and young people by creating healthier environments for everyone.

Let us know what you think?

[Image description: A man in a car exhales vapour while holding a v**e. Text at the top reads, “Vaping around children?” Derbyshire Family Health Service logo in top right.]

Now spring is here, you and your baby might be getting out and about more and you could be feeling unsure about breastfe...
06/04/2026

Now spring is here, you and your baby might be getting out and about more and you could be feeling unsure about breastfeeding in public - but breastfeeding isn’t something you need to hide. We know it’s important you feel comfortable when feeding and our website has tips about ways to build your confidence. It is important to remember that you are protected by law to breastfeed in public.

To make things even more comfortable, over 400 venues across Derbyshire have signed up to the Derbyshire County Council Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme. These venues offer a supportive environment and baby-friendly facilities, helping you feel more confident to feed when you’re out and about.

You can use the Breastfeeding Welcome Here venue map to filter venues by area and venue type, see if they have baby changing facilities, free drinking water facilities or an additional more private area should you prefer one.

Heading out? Look for a venue now: https://derbyshirefamilyhealthservice.nhs.uk/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-welcome-here-venue-finder

[Image description: Map showing breastfeeding-friendly venues in Derbyshire, with coloured markers, filters, a key, and service logo.]

Easter brings plenty of sweet treats and young people love them, but having sugary snacks throughout the day can be toug...
03/04/2026

Easter brings plenty of sweet treats and young people love them, but having sugary snacks throughout the day can be tough on their teeth.

A simple way to help protect their smile is to encourage them to enjoy treats at mealtimes rather than eating sweets on and off all day. This reduces how long sugar stays on their teeth, giving enamel a better chance to stay strong and fight decay.

A little support now helps your young person maintain a healthier, happier smile.

Let them enjoy their chocolate and keep their teeth happy too!

[Image description: A selection of milk chocolate Easter eggs and colourful sweet eggs scattered on a surface. Derbyshire Teen Health logo is in the top right corner.]

Derbyshire County Council have launched their new healthy pregnancy campaign - Healthy Beginnings - packed full of suppo...
02/04/2026

Derbyshire County Council have launched their new healthy pregnancy campaign - Healthy Beginnings - packed full of support and advice for parents to be. Whether this is your first baby, or not, there's always new things to learn!

https://joinedupcarederbyshire.co.uk/healthybeginnings/

[Image description: Illustration of a parent cradling a baby. Inset photo of a smiling couple with a baby. Healthy Beginnings logo.]

Address

Headquarters, Newholme Hospital, Baslow Road
Bakewell
DE451AD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

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