New community clinic and support group

A new community clinic and support group for under-school age children is now available at Louise House, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury.

The Community Clinic is open from 9.30am to 11.30am each Wednesday, and offers confidential one to one consultation to parents and carers of babies and small children. This is a drop-in clinic and no appointment is necessary.

The Under Ones Group runs every Friday from 1.00pm to 2.00pm. The group is run by health professionals, and provides opportunities for support and advice which includes covering sessions on weaning, sleep management, breastfeeding and other topics. There is a small charge of £1.50 which covers the costs of refreshments.

Louise House is one of Shropshire County Council’s six joint-use community projects across Shropshire that provides a wide range of services to the community. It is purpose-built, and can accommodate for people with various levels of mobility. With its own car park it also offers safer access for visitors.

Councillor Barbara Craig, Cabinet member for community services, said “Louise House provides a high standard of clinic facilities and areas of relaxation which makes it a superb venue for the community clinic. This is a wonderful example of how our new community centres work together with our partners to provide essential services for local residents.”

The community clinic service has been operating since September, and is operated by the Shrewsbury and Atcham Health Visiting Team as part of Shropshire County Primary Care Trust.

Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet member for children’s services said, “We very much welcome services like the community clinic who play a vital role in supporting many of Shropshire’s parents and carers of younger children.”

Amanda Exton, Health Visitor Support Worker, Shropshire County Primary Care Trust, said “The clinic is open to all parents and carers of babies and children under school age, and not only provides confidential one to one consultations but an opportunity to access local health visitors for health advice, information on local services for children and their families in a relaxed and friendly environment.”

16 November 2007