Shropshire Council

Public Health Nursing Service

The Public Health Nursing service consists of health visitors, school nurses, family nurse partnership and skilled practitioners to support the healthy child programme delivery. The aim of the service is to support health outcomes for children and young people, and they are able to offer support, information and signposting on a number of issues, for example healthy eating, physical activity, continence, toilet training, emotional health and wellbeing, relationships, sexual health, accident prevention and oral health, dependent upon each child/ young person’s needs. A public health nurse may provide information or be asked to undertake an assessment as part of the education health and care plan and/or provide support as part of the plans recommendations.

All children are offered a health review between 9-12 months, and again at two to two-and-a-half years of age, and if required additional support is provided or a referral made to a specialist service. Further health assessments are being introduced between the ages of five and 14.

This service can also offer support on managing long term conditions such as asthma, allergies, epilepsy and diabetes, as well as providing training to mainstream schools on how to support children and young people with these conditions in the school environment.

The service also provides a specialist community public health nurse (SEND) and healthy child programme practitioner who work in partnership to deliver innovative and evidence-based care to early years, special education settings, travelling families and the home-educated in Shropshire. The team provides specialist leadership and support to the 0-19 Public Health Nursing Team in care planning for children with special educational needs, EHCP and/or long term conditions.

Preparing for school is an important milestone in your child’s development. We have produced a leaflet which provides information on school readiness. All children develop at different ages and stages but if you would like more information please see the below links for information, guidance, resources and local activities:

If you would like more support please contact the 0-19 Public Health School Nursing Service.

Parents and young people can self-refer into the service using the dedicated single point of access telephone number or by texting (see information below). Referrals are also accepted from other professionals.

The Public Health Nursing Service (PHNS) contact details are:

General Contact Number: 0333 358 3654

Texting Service (available for parents and young people):

  • Health Visitor: 07520 635212
  • School Nurse: 07507 330346

Follow on Twitter: @ShropPHNurses