Due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and the pressures on health professionals at this time, new legislation has recently been passed that will not insist on the need for a registered health professional’s signature and stamp on Part B of the Healthy Start vouchers’ application form.
From Monday 6 April, the application for Healthy Start Vouchers does not need to be signed off by a health professional.
Healthy Start is a government public health scheme that provides a nutritional safety net for pregnant women, new mums and young children in very low-income families. If you are pregnant or have a child under 4 and are in receipt of benefits you may qualify for Healthy Start vouchers for fruit, vegetables, milk and vitamins. Go to www.healthystart.nhs.uk to print off your application form.
Healthy Start vouchers can be used to buy milk, fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables or first stage infant formula milk and to obtain free vitamins. The vouchers are worth £3.10 per week for each child under 4 (£6.20 for a child under 1). That’s enough to buy 2 litres of milk, a bag of frozen veg and a bunch of bananas. If you qualify for the scheme, you’ll be sent vouchers you can use in over 30,000 shops in the UK. You can also get coupons to swap for pregnancy vitamins, breastfeeding vitamins or vitamins for children aged 6 months to 5 years old.
Healthy Start vitamins contain the important vitamins C, D and Folic Acid needed in pregnancy. Children’s vitamin drops are suitable from birth for babies who are breastfed or receiving less than 500ml of infant formula per day and contain the essential vitamins A, C and D.
The following clinics are open to the public to purchase Healthy Start vitamins either with the vouchers or for a low price if you are not in receipt of vouchers, however we urge people to ring the clinic before going out:
- Cheadle Hulme (Wed) only 8.30am – 4.30pm
- Heald Green – 8.30am – 4.30pm
- Woodley – 8.30am – 4.30pm
- Shaw Heath – 8.30am – 4.30pm
- Hazel Grove – 8.30am – 4.30pm
Cllr Jude Wells, Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health, said:
These vouchers help to provide that vital healthy start to a young persons life, so It’s great to hear that families will have easier access to Healthy Start vouchers during the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Plenty of support and advice is available on the Healthy Start website, including food and health tips, a map of shops that accept the vouchers, and answers to frequently asked questions too.”