Our health improvement team are working to increase the use of Healthy Start vitamins, which are now free for all pregnant women in Lanarkshire.

Specially formulated for maternal health, the NHS-approved vitamins contain:

• folic acid, which can reduce the chances of a baby being born with spina bifida;
• vitamin C to help maintain healthy tissue in the body;
• vitamin D to allow absorption of calcium and to support bone development throughout pregnancy and into the postnatal period.

All pregnant women will receive vitamins at their antenatal appointments through their community midwife and can be signposted to various suppliers after they have had their baby.

In addition, NHS Lanarkshire has initiated a different way to supply Healthy Start vitamins in the community for children up to the age of four, by connecting with local community partners, voluntary organisations and learning centres so parents can access them easier.

Healthy Start vitamin drops for children contain vitamins A, C and D, which are essential for infant health and wellbeing.

Susan Short, public health nutritionist and Healthy Start lead for NHS Lanarkshire, is leading the distribution model to encourage a wider uptake.

She said: “Research tells us that some mums feel their children eat healthily and don’t need additional vitamins. There’s national guidance that children up to the age of five should have additional vitamins, particularly vitamin D that children can’t get enough of through diet alone.”

Glenboig Community Centre has much to cheer about by becoming one of the first community groups taking part in a new way of providing Healthy Start vitamins for children.

Local mum Sarah Maloney, who comes to the Glenboig group, voiced her approval of the scheme with her 22-month-old daughter, Abigail, enjoying the banana-flavoured drops.

Sarah said: “They are easy to take and she enjoys them. Vitamins are so important for the immune system and development of bones, especially vitamin D as we have a shortage of sunlight here. Why wouldn’t you want to give a boost to keep your wee one healthy?”

As well as vitamins the Healthy Start scheme provides vouchers for the purchase of fresh and frozen plain fruit and vegetables and milk for pregnant and post natal women and children up to the age of four.

Glenboig Community Centre development manager Teresa Aitkin explained: “We provide the service at a local level, seven days a week, so people don’t have to worry about transport or getting to a pharmacy or clinic to access Healthy Start vitamins or to use their Healthy Start voucher. We also have fresh fruit, milk and vegetables available in our onsite grocers.”

Claire Roberson, from Coatbridge, attends Glenboig Community Centre’s parent and toddler group with her youngest daughter Seren.

She said: “I took Healthy Start Vitamins as I wanted the benefits for all round health while I was pregnant – especially vitamin D, which I understand we can lack here in Scotland.”

Pregnant and postnatal women should contact their community midwife or health visitor for advice.

For eligibility for children’s vitamins visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk or call 0345 607 6823. For distribution points visit: www.healthystart.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NHS-Lanarkshire.pdf.  Please check stock beforehand.

For more information please contact Susan Short, public health nutritionist: susan.short@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk or call 01698 377619