Healthy Babies programme to be made available to families in Portsmouth

Stephen Morgan MP has welcomed the announcement that the Healthy Babies programme, which was established by this Labour government, is set to become available in all local authority areas, including Portsmouth.  

This expansion will see parents across Portsmouth having access to enhanced infant feeding and mental health support, as well as help to support form strong relationships with their babies, alongside health visiting and midwifery support, at more than 1,000 hubs by 2028.  

This announcement forms part of Health Secretary Yvette Cooper MP’s approach to neighbourhood health, intended to deliver a vision of integrated early years, family and elderly support delivered closer to home.  

Since the election the Labour Government has been rolling out new family hubs. However more than half of local authorities have hubs without health services, contrary to the Sure Start principles which integrated health, early years development and all family support for children under five. The Sure Start programme was left to fade away by the Conservatives after 2010. 

Mr Morgan, the MP for Portsmouth South, said: “By rebuilding family hubs across the country, this Government is bringing back crucial support for parents and for young children in Portsmouth. 

“As a result of decisions made by the Conservatives, vital services have been missing from communities up and down the country in recent years, putting unnecessary pressures on families. 

“That is why this government is ensuring that health services are available where care is needed in communities across the UK, helping to give all children the best start in life, regardless of their background or where they are from.”