Family doctors
You can contact your family doctor (GP) at any time, whether it’s for you or your child. Some GPs will see small babies at the beginning of surgery hours or without an appointment, but be prepared to wait.
Some will give advice over the phone. Most GPs provide developmental reviews and vaccinations, or you can go to a child health clinic.
Registering with your GP
Register your baby with your GP as early as possible in case you need their help. You can use the pink card that you’ll be given when you register your baby’s birth. Sign the card and take or send it to your GP. If you want the GP to see your baby before you’ve registered the birth, you can go to the surgery and fill in a registration form there. If you move, register with a new doctor close to you as soon as possible. Go to Find Services to search for a GP in your area.
Health visitors
A health visitor will usually visit you for the first time around 10 days after your baby is born. After that, you will see your health visitor at the child health clinic, although you can ask to see them at any time. If you’re on your own or struggling, your health visitor will probably come to see whether you need any help.
A health visitor is a qualified nurse who has had extra training. Part of their role is to help families avoid illness and stay healthy, especially families with babies and young children. Health visitors are part of a team that offers screening and developmental checks as part of the Healthy Child Programme.
Talk to your health visitor or a member of your team if you feel anxious, depressed or worried. They can give you advice and suggest where to find help. They may also be able to put you in touch with groups where you can meet other mothers.
Your health visitor can visit you at home or you can see them at your child health clinic, GP surgery or health centre, depending on where they’re based. Your health visitor will make sure you’ve got their phone number.
Child health clinics
Child health clinics are run by health visitors and doctors. They offer regular health and development reviews and vaccinations. You can talk about any problems to do with your child, but if your child is ill and is likely to need treatment, go to your GP. Some run mother and baby, parent and toddler, breastfeeding and peer support groups.
Community midwives
You'll be given contact details for midwives based in your local community. Midwives provide antenatal and postnatal care in several different places, including children’s centres. They can also visit you in your own home.
Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)
Sometimes children need more specialist help with their emotional health, development or behaviour. CAMHS professionals are trained to understand children’s emotional wellbeing and psychological health, as well as the pressures and strains of family life.
If your GP, health visitor or child health worker can’t give you the help you need, they may suggest that you see a CAMHS worker.
Patient advice and liaison services (PALS)
PALS provides information about local health services, including lists of local doctors. They can also advise you on how to get what you need from your health services and about the complaints procedures. Contact your local PALS by calling your local NHS trust or primary care trust and asking to be put through. Or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
How to change your GP
You may need to change your GP if you move or you may want to change for other reasons, even if you’re not moving house.
First, find a GP who’ll take you on. Ask around and see if anybody can recommend one. Your local PALS or our online services search can give you a list of the doctors in your area. You may have to try more than one GP before you find one willing to accept you, especially if you live in a heavily populated area.
If you can’t find a GP after several attempts, your local health authority will do it for you. Send them your medical card if you have it or the address of your previous GP if you don't.
When you visit your new GP surgery, leave your medical card with the receptionist. You don’t have to contact your old GP. If you’ve lost your medical card, your new GP will probably ask you to complete a form instead. In some cases, they may want you to contact your primary care trust (the number will be listed in the phone book) and obtain a new medical card.
You’ll need to give the primary care trust the name and address of your old GP. If you don’t know it, the process could take longer. If you need treatment in the meantime, you can approach any GP, who must take you on at least temporarily. It’s best to say upfront that you need treatment straight away, even if you’re also asking to be permanently registered with that GP.
Further information
