Family Nurse Partnership Launches in Lincolnshire

Young, first time mothers can now benefit from specialist support from a dedicated family nurse.

The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) is available to pregnant women in Boston, Skegness and coastal areas of Lincolnshire who are aged under 20.

FNP is a free and voluntary programme which sees a specially trained, experienced nurse making home visits from the early stages of pregnancy until the child reaches two years old.

The programme supports young mums to have a healthy pregnancy, improves the child’s health and development, plans for the family’s future and supports them to achieve their aspirations.

The programme in Lincolnshire, the 100th site to be launched nationally, is being led by Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), with the team supported by Queen’s Nurse and Supervisor Jenny Harper.

The programme also works closely with other agencies including midwives, GPs, health visitors, school nurses, social care teams, schools, children’s centres and voluntary agencies.

Jenny said: “This is an extremely exciting opportunity for LCHS to provide intensive support to young pregnant women. Through this programme, we hope to help them to achieve full potential for themselves and their child.

“Throughout pregnancy, the family nurse works alongside midwifery services to support the young woman. The programme then incorporates the Healthy Child Programme for the first two years of the child’s life, in place of the traditional health visitor role.

“Successful FNP programmes have found significant improvements have been made to the health and wellbeing of the whole family.”

Anyone interested in accessing the Family Nurse Partnership programme can ask their midwife or GP for more information.