Child Health

Childhood Immunisations

Under school age

Frome Medical Practice delivers the immunisation programme for children under school age.

You will receive invitations for these appointments via the Child Health Department. Any concerns about your appointment – please contact Child Health on 01278 589225.

School age

The Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust delivers the routine national immunisation programme to school aged children in Frome.

This includes flu, HPV, meningococcal disease and Diptheria, Tetanus and Polio vaccines.

 

Other information

View the NHS vaccination schedule for babies under 1 year old, children aged 1 to 15, adults, and pregnant women.

Parents can often feel nervous about taking their chidren for immunisations. Immunising children is one of the safest ways of protecting them. It helps prevent threats to their life or long term health issues from preventable diseases.

Your health visitor can give you information to make informed decisions about your child’s immunisations.

See more information on why vaccinations are safe and important.

Coping With Infant Crying

Babies cry because it is the only way they can let a parent know that they need help. Crying is meant to be upsetting for a parent, it is nature's way of making sure they pay attention. A baby's cry might signal many things that discomfort it. Sometimes babies cry for no reason at all and just cannot be settled.

Crying can be upsetting for you and your baby, but it causes no harm and will eventually stop. If this is something you are experiencing it can be hard to cope.

But there are things you can do to try and help. We use the phrase ICON to help us remember how to cope with a crying baby.

Remember the ICON message: 

  • Infant crying is normal and it will stop.
  • Comfort methods will sometimes help and the crying will stop.
  • OK to walk away for a few minutes to calm down if the baby is safe and the crying is getting to you.
  • Never ever shake or hurt a baby.

Visit the ICON website

Healthy Child Programme

Health and development reviews are offered for your baby until they are 2 years old. These are to support you and your baby and to make sure their development is on track.

Shortly before or after your baby is born you will be given a personal child health record – often called ‘the red book’. This is used to record important information about your child, including height and weight and vaccination records.

At 6-8 weeks your baby will be invited for a physical examination. This is carried out by your doctor and is often done at the same time as your post-natal check.

After this, routine development checks will be carried out by your Health Visitor.

Other support available

Visit the NHS website for more information on the reviews your baby will undergo.

Find more information about the health visiting team, including their contact details on the Somerset County Council website.

Useful Resources