Public health nurses still supporting parents

Public health nurses perform a vital role in supporting new parents and ensuring that babies develop as they should. Covid-19 restrictions had hampered their ability to travel and see the parents of toddlers to assess their development.

However new parents and parents of younger children can contact their local public health nurse for support if they have any concerns about their child’s development, according to Cork Kerry Community Healthcare.

Public health nurses provide child health screening, developmental surveillance, key health messages and support to parents from birth.

While public health nurses are still visiting new babies and their parents after their discharge from maternity hospitals, a number of other scheduled early childhood appointments have been paused.

The purpose of these early childhood appointments is to carry out a developmental assessment to see if a child is growing and developing skills that are suitable for their age and similar to children of the same age.

It also allows parents and guardians an opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have and to refer a child to other healthcare services if required.

Regrettably due to Covid-19 restrictions and Covid-19 related demands on services, child vision and hearing checks for junior and senior infant pupils, are paused. Immunisation clinics, including HPV (human papillomavirus) are also delayed.

Clinics will recommence once current Level 5 restrictions are withdrawn. Initially these clinics will address the appointments postponed during previous lockdowns.

Director of Public Health Nursing for North Lee, Nicola Brett said: “We know how important these appointments are for children, and how reassuring they can be for parents. We want to reassure parents and guardians that these checks will resume as soon as possible.

“In the meantime, your Cork Kerry Community Healthcare public health nursing team (PHN) is still there for you if you have any worries or concerns about your child’s development. If you don’t have your PHN’s phone number or if they have been redeployed, you can contact your local Public Health Nursing Department. The public health nurse can discuss your concerns over the phone or refer you on to other health specialists if necessary.”

Public health nurse contacts:

• South Lee 021-4923915

• North Lee 021-4923891

• North Cork 022-58700

• West Cork 028-40428

• Kerry 066-7184555

Public Health Nurse for South Lee, Aine O’Sullivan said: “While these developmental assessments are paused, there are still plenty of activities which parents can do at home with their children to support their development. We also recommend that you look at the HSE website mychild.ie, where there’s lot of very useful and easy-to-follow advice about child development at different ages, nutrition, safety in the home, dental health, speech and social and emotional development.”

Parents and guardians can access useful books on mychild.ie.

The My Child 0-2 year book is at www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/child-health/my-child-0-to-2-years.pdf.

My Child 2 to 5 years is at www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/child-health/my-child-2-to-5-years.pdf.

In addition, parents should still contact their GP to arrange visits for their vaccines at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 13 months. These important vaccines protect babies from serious infectious diseases.