We want everyone in Barnsley to have the opportunity to live their lives in good health starting from birth.
Research shows that taking certain vitamins during pregnancy and in early childhood improves the health of both the mother and the child.
According to the NHS, young children may not get enough vitamin A and D, even if they are eating well, while those who are pregnant and breastfeeding may not get enough vitamin C or D or folic acid. To tackle this issue and support families to thrive, two schemes are running in Barnsley to improve access to maternal and infant vitamins.
The national Healthy Start vitamin offer
The national Healthy Start scheme supports eligible families to access free vitamins for pregnant or breastfeeding women (until their child’s first birthday) and free vitamins for children (until their fourth birthday). Under 18s who are pregnant automatically qualify for the national Healthy Start scheme, until their baby is born.
A new process now makes it easier for families to apply online for the national Healthy Start scheme and, if eligible, they will receive a pre-paid Healthy Start Mastercard, which replaces the previously used paper vouchers.
As well as being used to buy food, milk and infant formula, the Healthy Start Mastercard can be used to show a family is eligible to collect free vitamins through the scheme. Further details of eligibility can be found on the NHS website.
The local Healthy Start vitamin offer in Barnsley
Alongside this, our public health team in Barnsley fund Healthy Start vitamins for all families at specific milestones, regardless of whether they are eligible for the scheme and have a Healthy Start Mastercard:
• One free bottle of maternal vitamin tablets given at the antenatal booking appointment.
• One free bottle of infant vitamin drops given for breastfed babies at birth on discharge from hospital (or after a home birth).
• Three free bottles of infant vitamin drops for all babies from six months of age, to be collected from main Barnsley Family Hubs -
• North Family Hub
• North east Family hub
• Central family Hub
• Deane Family hub
• South family hub
Families will be reminded to collect these via automated text messages from Barnsley’s 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service.
Families not eligible for the Healthy Start scheme after receiving the above free vitamins can continue to purchase both women’s and children’s Healthy Start vitamins from a number of locations. Women’s vitamins are around £1 and children’s vitamins are around £2.
Eligible families can continue to collect free Healthy Start vitamins using their Healthy Start Mastercard.
Women’s vitamins are available at:
Barnsley Maternity Services reception
• North Family Hub
• North east Family hub
• Central family Hub
• Deane Family hub
• South family hub
Children’s vitamins are available at:
• North Family Hub
• North east Family hub
• Central family Hub
• Deane Family hub
• South family hub
• Clark’s Chemist (Penistone)
The national Healthy Start scheme supports eligible families to access free vitamins for pregnant or breastfeeding women (until their child’s first birthday) and free vitamins for children (until their fourth birthday). Under 18s who are pregnant automatically qualify for the national Healthy Start scheme, until their baby is born.
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk, through the Healthy Start scheme.
All pregnant women should take vitamins during pregnancy and continue these whilst they are breastfeeding. It is also recommended that breastfed babies have healthy start vitamins from birth. If babies are combination feeding, they will need healthy start vitamins if they are having less than 500mls formula milk.
All children will need vitamins from 6 months old. Healthy Start Children's vitamin drops contain three essential vitamins (Vitamins A, C and D). The vitamins contribute to the maintenance of normal vision, the normal function of the immune system and to the maintenance of normal bones.
A new process now makes it easier for families to apply online for the national Healthy Start scheme and, if eligible, they will receive a pre-paid Healthy Start Mastercard, which replaces the previously used paper vouchers.
Click here to find out if you are eligible and to apply.