Blackpool Council Annual Health Report 2019 Blackpool Council Annual Health Report PAGES | Page 11

THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE OF BLACKPOOL
2018 HEALTHY BEGINNINGS FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE
The importance of the earliest phase of life as an
opportunity to intervene for the benefit of life-long
health and wellbeing has been recognised by The Better
Start Partnership. In collaboration with Public Health,
NHS and community services, it is implementing a
ten-year program aimed at improving the outcomes for
a whole generation.
Research increasingly shows that events in the first thousand
days of a child’s life (from during pregnancy until around aged
two) have significant impact on lifetime health and wellbeing.
During pregnancy, its mother meets all of a baby’s needs. All
factors affecting a mother’s health such as stress, diet, drug use,
alcohol use and smoking, can have a significant impact on the
development of the baby both before and after birth. Securing
good maternal health and wellbeing is fundamental to making
sure Blackpool’s children get a good start in life.
The first projects started in 2015, enabling every pregnant
woman in Blackpool to have access to an evidence based
programme of antenatal care. The Family Nurse Partnership
(FNP) supports pregnant women aged 19 and under, and
Baby Steps is designed for all those aged 20 and over.
The Better Start Partnership has also undertaken a full review and
redesign of the health visiting offer in the town and Blackpool
parents now receive a minimum of eight visits (nationally the
minimum is five). It is expected that by increasing the number
of contacts a family has with a Health Visitor, families who need
help and support during the first five years of life will be easier to
identify. The structure of the visits has also changed to be more
trauma informed. Parents are encouraged to be actively involved
in conversations with health visitors and be open about their
concerns so the appropriate advice and support can be accessed.
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