Public Health Dorset has commissioned Dorset HealthCare to provide the Public Health Nursing service for children and young people aged 0-19 years across Dorset, which includes school nurses and health visitors.

This integrated service focuses on improving health and wellbeing amongst children and young people and identifying problems early, to reduce increasing pressure on acute and specialist services.

The Public Health Nursing service focuses on four key local health and wellbeing priorities:

• reducing smoking in pregnancy
• increasing physical activity
• improving wellbeing and mental health
• ensuring children arrive at school ready to learn and achieve

Dorset HealthCare Chief Executive Eugine Yafele said:

“We are delighted that we can continue with our work to support children, young people and families across Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Our aim is to help give local children the best start in life and retaining this contract means we can continue to develop and improve our services to make a real difference for children and families.

“Our staff are really committed and excited to help shape the future of services for children and young people.”

Getting a good start in life and throughout childhood, building resilience and getting the most out of education are all important for maintaining good health and wellbeing throughout life.

Sam Crowe, Interim Director of Public Health, said:

“In the tender we set some really stretching ambitions for this new integrated service and we’re delighted to award the contract to Dorset HealthCare.

“It’s a really exciting time to be working in Dorset as one of the first wave of Integrated Care System collaborations. There is a strong history in the county of partnership working to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families, and we are looking forward to working together to build on these successes.”

Working with families, teachers and practitioners, Public Health Nursing links up local services to deliver practical support for children and young people to improve their health and wellbeing. An extended digital service will also be offered, including digital consultations and advice by text, to help families find the information they need quickly and easily.