Derbyshire Family Health Service

Directions Website

Derbyshire Family Health Service Supporting Derbyshire children, young people and families with health, wellbeing and NHS advice. To speak to our team tel. Closed bank holidays. Thank you

no. 01246 515100 (Mon-Fri, 9am - 4.30pm). If you need urgent medical advice please contact your own GP, out of hours service - NHS 111, or in an emergency, call an ambulance or attend your local Emergency Department. House rules:

We ask everyone to remember this is a family page and to abide by social media rules. We welcome all comments and opinions, but ask everyone to be polite and respectful to one another. Comments that include content deemed to be abusive, offensive, sexist, racist, trolling or contain bad language will be removed. Anyone who persistently posts such content will be blocked from the page. We sincerely hope this will never happen so we can be an open, honest and respectful online community.

Walking to school gives young people more independence, but phones can be a distraction when they’re near roads.Research...
16/10/2026

Walking to school gives young people more independence, but phones can be a distraction when they’re near roads.

Research into secondary school pupils found that:
• 84% use their mobile phone near roads
• 68% message while walking
• 29% scroll or upload on social media while walking
• 10% watch films while walking near roads
• 1 in 5 pupils has been hit or narrowly missed by a vehicle while using their phone.

A strong reminder of the importance of talking to your child or teen about staying safe around traffic.

You could ask:
• What could distract you when you're walking near a road? 👀
• When is a safe place to check your phone? 📱
• What would you do if you needed to reply to a message while walking? 🚦
• What about music, headphones or other distractions? 🎧

Agree some simple rules together, such as putting their phone away when crossing roads and stopping somewhere safe if they need to use it.

A few minutes talking about road safety could help your child make safer choices when they're out on their own - screens down, eyes up!

[Image description: Two photos, top photo shows a child in school uniform walking across a zebra crossing, they have headphones on and are looking at their mobile phone, not aware of their surroundings. The bottom image shows a group of older teens in uniform at a zebra crossing and they are all looking where they are going and crossing safely. Text banner in the centre reads “Screens down, eyes up!” and the Derbyshire Family Health Service logo.]

We’re thinking of all the families who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, baby or child. Whether your loss was re...
15/10/2026

We’re thinking of all the families who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, baby or child. Whether your loss was recent or many years ago, your baby or child is remembered.

We take part in the Wave of Light to remember babies and children who have died.

Thinking of you and your family today. 🕯️

[Image description: A lit candle against a dark background with soft focus candlelight in the background, featuring the text “Wave of light” and “Remembering with love,” with the Derbyshire Family Health Service logo in the corner.]

Family hubs are in development across Derbyshire. The first 2 are opening this week and more will be opening over the ne...
14/10/2026

Family hubs are in development across Derbyshire. The first 2 are opening this week and more will be opening over the next few months.

If you are local to Birdholme or Cotmanhay, why not drop in to the Family Open days between 1-3pm on 16 October at Birdholme and 19 October at Cotmanhay.

Visit www.tinyurl.com/BSILOpenDays or scan the QR code to register your place.

[Image description: Flyer for Best Start in Life Family Hub open days on 16 October in Birdholme and 19 October in Cotmanhay, including illustrations of a pregnant woman and a toddler with speech bubbles and a QR code for registration.]

We ask because we’re trying to make sure we give you the right support.[Image description: A series of images highlighti...
14/10/2026

We ask because we’re trying to make sure we give you the right support.

[Image description: A series of images highlighting some of the questions health visitors might ask parents and carers, including:
Why do you ask me about contraception so soon after birth?
Answer: We ask because you can get pregnant 3 weeks after the birth of a baby, including if you're breastfeeding and your periods haven't started again.
We can also advise on what contraception might be best for you. And, why do you ask about my mental health?
Answer: We ask because having a baby can be challenging on your wellbeing. If you’re struggling, we can help.]

What’s suitable for your child? 📱🎮📺📖It can be difficult to know whether a TV programme, film, book, video game or social...
13/10/2026

What’s suitable for your child? 📱🎮📺📖

It can be difficult to know whether a TV programme, film, book, video game or social media platform is right for your child/young person.

Common Sense Media is a useful resource for parents and carers. It provides age ratings and reviews for a wide range of media, along with information about things such as:

• Violence and frightening content
• Language
• Sexual content
• Consumerism
• Positive messages and role models
• How suitable the content may be for different ages

You can use it to help you decide whether something is appropriate for your child and start conversations about what they might see or experience.

Remember that age ratings are a guide, not a substitute for knowing your child. Consider their age, maturity and individual needs, as well as the content itself.

Search for the Common Sense Media website to explore their guides.

[Image description: A woman covers a child’s eyes while he sits in front of a television. Text above reads, “Don’t want your child to see something they shouldn’t?” The Derbyshire Family Health Service logo appears in the top right corner.]

As children spend more time together in childcare and school settings, coughs, colds and other bugs can spread quickly.R...
12/10/2026

As children spend more time together in childcare and school settings, coughs, colds and other bugs can spread quickly.

Remind your child to:

• Wash their hands regularly with soap and water, especially after using the toilet, before eating and after coughing or sneezing.

• Catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue, then put it in the bin.

• Wash their hands after blowing their nose or coughing and sneezing into their hands.

Simple habits can help reduce the spread of germs and keep more children and families well.

[Image description: Infographic from Derbyshire Family Health Service illustrating how to stop the spread of germs: catch a sneeze in a tissue, bin the tissue, and wash your hands]

On Sunday, the 25th of October, the clocks go back one hour, which might mean a change to your child’s sleep patterns (b...
09/10/2026

On Sunday, the 25th of October, the clocks go back one hour, which might mean a change to your child’s sleep patterns (but we might just get an extra hour in bed if we are lucky!)

If your child is sensitive to changes in their routine, you can start preparing a few days beforehand:

• gradually shift their bedtime later by 10 to 15 minutes each day over the course of the week before the change.
• Move naps and wake-up times later by a similar amount
• Keep your usual bedtime routine, a familiar routine can help your child know it’s time to wind down.
• Get outside during the day, particularly in the morning, to help their body clock adjust.
• Keep the bedroom calm, dark and comfortable at bedtime.
• Give them a few days to adjust, it’s normal if sleep is a little unsettled at first.

You don’t have to make big changes all at once. Small, gradual adjustments can make the clock change easier for the whole family.

[Image description: Illustration of a woman pulling the hands of a large clock with all her strength, with the text “Clock changes and sleep” and the Derbyshire Family Health Service logo in the top right corner.]

Some medicines contain sugar, which can increase the risk of tooth decay, especially when taken regularly. When your chi...
08/10/2026

Some medicines contain sugar, which can increase the risk of tooth decay, especially when taken regularly. When your child needs medicine, ask your pharmacist or healthcare professional if a sugar-free option is available and suitable.

If medicine needs to be mixed with food or drink, check the instructions or ask your pharmacist what is suitable. For example, some laxative medications such as Movicol could be harmful to teeth over long periods of use, try to use water as a mixer or sugar free alternatives and use a straw to protect the tooth enamel. Also encourage your little one to consume the drink quite quickly to avoid prolonged contact with teeth.

Does your child use an inhaler? Some types of inhaler medications can reduce saliva, which is one of the mouth’s natural defences against acids and bacteria.

Help protect teeth when using an inhaler by:
• Rinse and spit - rinse thoroughly with water immediately after every inhaler use.
• Use a spacer - ask your healthcare professional or pharmacist if a spacer is suitable for their inhaler.
• Think about brushing: If the inhaler lowers the pH in the mouth, wait at least 30 minutes before brushing. If the inhaler is needed just before bed, brushing before the dose may be an option.

You can read more about your child’s oral health on our website. [Link in bio]

If you’re unsure about a medicine, speak to your pharmacist, dentist or healthcare professional.

[Image description: A carousel of three illustrations, all on pale blue backgrounds, with the Derbyshire Family Health Service logo in the top right corner. Image 1 shows a parent giving a young child a syringe of orange liquid medicine. Text above reads "Sugar free medication?". Image 2 shows a sachet of powder medicine being poured into a glass of water, with a spoon ready to be mixed, text above reads: "Mixing medication...". Image 3 shows a young person using a blue inhaler and a bottle of water next to them, the text above reads "Rinse and Spit".]

When do you see a health visitor? [Image description: A series of images explaining the different contacts you might hav...
07/10/2026

When do you see a health visitor?

[Image description: A series of images explaining the different contacts you might have with the health visiting team. The health visiting team includes health visitors, infant feeding practitioners, and community nursery nurses. The times your health visiting team will contact you are: during pregnancy (antenatally), 10-14 days after your baby is born, 6-8 weeks after your baby is born, when your baby is 9-12 months old, and when your child is around 2 to 2.5. Other contacts may include: a call 24-48 hours after you are discharged from hospital for feeding support, ongoing support from the infant feeding specialist, a getting ready for reception visit from a community nursery nurse to help your child get ready for school.]

“Can you just carry this for me?”As your child gets older, they may find themselves being asked to hold or carry somethi...
06/10/2026

“Can you just carry this for me?”

As your child gets older, they may find themselves being asked to hold or carry something for a friend.

It can be hard to know how to respond in the moment, especially if they don’t want to seem unhelpful or get someone into trouble.

Help your young teen understand that they should never carry something if they don’t know what it is or where it came from. It could be something that is unsafe or prohibited, and they could find themselves responsible for something that isn’t theirs.

Things you could talk about together:

• “What would you say if a friend asked you to carry something but wouldn’t tell you what it was?”

• “Would you feel comfortable saying no, even if they said it was only for a few minutes?”

• “What could you do if you felt pressured?”

• “Who could you come to if something like this happened?”

Give them an easy way out, agree a simple response they can use, such as:

“No thanks, I don't carry things if I don't know what they are.”

Or, if they feel uncomfortable or just unable to say anything , they can just walk away and contact a trusted adult.

Let your young teen know that they can always talk to you about something that has happened, even if they are worried they might have made a mistake. Having a conversation before they are faced with pressure can make it easier to make a safe choice in the moment.

[Image description: Three teenagers with rucksacks stand outdoors. One offers an item, while another declines with a raised hand. The text reads, “If you don’t know what it is, don’t carry it... It’s OK to say no.” The Derbyshire Family Health Service logo is included.]

Address

Headquarters, Newholme Hospital, Baslow Road
Bakewell
DE451AD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Website

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