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Doctors
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Community Midwives

We try to ensure that the most routine antenatal care is carried out at the Health Centres by your own Doctor and the Community Midwife. Once your doctor has confirmed your pregnancy you will be asked to leave your name and contact number at the Reception Desk. For patients registered with Drs Turner,Hills, Kanagasooriam, Pinnock,Osborne and Buchanan this is done by Group B Reception. For patients registered with Drs Pieters, Lee, Stefani, Chandler and Brice this is done by Group A Reception. For patients registered with Drs Ribchester, Wain, Jardine, Brown, Esser and Glynn this is done at Chestfield Medical Centre.

WHITSTABLE MIDWIVES

Congratulations on your pregnancy! We hope you are feeling well, and we look forward to meeting you soon.

There are five Whitstable Team midwives:

Ursula Mitchelhill
Jane Bradya
Eva Armbruster
Vanessa Hughes-Lewis

Once it is confirmed you are pregnant, you will need to leave your name and contact number with reception.
One of us will then contact you within the next week to arrange a "Booking in" appointment. At this appointment we will discuss your previous medical history and make plans for your care in this pregnancy.

It would be helpful to us if you could complete the maternity booklet given to you by reception, up to page 6, before your appointment. Don't worry if you get stuck on some questions we can always finish it when we see you. It is also useful if you can find out your height and weight.

After this appointment you will usually be sent an appointment to attend a scan at the hospital around 12 weeks, and then you will be expected to make an appointment at the surgery to see the midwife when you are approximately 16 weeks pregnant.

Up until 12 weeks of pregnancy it is recommended that you take a supplement of Folic Acid 400g daily. Research has shown that this could help reduce the incidence of Spina Bifida.

Useful Telephone Numbers:

Whitstable A team Midwives: 07798 698336
Whitstable B team Midwives: 07798 698343
(these phones are on most days between 9am-5pm)

Canterbury Birth Centre: 01227 783105 (A midwife is available to give you advice 24hrs a day)

Maternity Liaison: 01227 864152 (If you need to leave us a message or change a home visit)

Labour Ward QEQM Hospital Margate: 01843 292494
Labour ward William Harvey hospital Ashford: 01233 616124

Whitstable Health centre: 0844 477 2566
Chestfield medical Centre: 0844 477 3073

Community Nurses

THE DISTRICT NURSING SERVICE

A team of District Nurses, Registered Nurses and Health Care Assistants is attached to each GP Practice. The District Nurse who has undertaken further training manages the Team. The District Nurse is the named nurse who is responsible for assessing any nursing care you require at home and can be contacted through your GP Practice.

Referrals are accepted from any source e.g. The GP Practice, patients, family carers, Social Services, hospital and hospice. Your District Nurse, with your permission, may refer you to other community services, e.g. physiotherapy, occupational therapy and specialist nurses for diabetes or continence. A joint assessment with social services may be required to provide you with a joint care package. When you no longer require nursing services, you may be referred to Social Services for further support and care in the community.

HOW THE NURSE CAN HELP

The District Nursing Service provides:

Health Promotion
Skilled nursing care
Support and advice
Education
Assistance for families and carers to provide care for relatives
Typical examples of health problems where District nurses can help are:

Patients with any condition requiring specialist nursing skills such as wound care, drug administration and feeding systems
Physical conditions such as heart attack, stroke, cancer and recovery from accidents and surgery.
Chronic disabilities such a multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and motoneurone disease
Terminal illness
Diabetic education and support
Continence problems for males and females requiring assessment advice and for those with indwelling catheters
Infants and children with illness or disability
Frail elderly, especially those living alone
LOAN EQUIPMENT STORE

A variety of equipment may be available to assist you to maintain your independence at home. This can be provided for long or short-term loan following an assessment by your District Nurse.

To contact your District Nurse, telephone Whitstable Health Centre on Tel. no. 594400.

Health Visitors

CHILD HEALTH

All Health Visitors have particular knowledge about the growth and development of young children. Every parent with a child under the age of 5 years is offered a service which includes discussing the child's health and development at regular intervals or by request. This is provided by close partnership and in liaison with your Doctor. Health Visitors aim to identify any problems or difficulties at an early age, enabling them to be dealt with promptly. They can also offer advice and education on such topics as growth and development, breast feeding and all other aspects of infant feeding, behaviour, sleep disturbance, tantrums, potty training and play. The Health Visitor has a role in accident prevention. If a child attends Hospital the Health Visitor is informed and may make contact to offer support.

FAMILY SUPPORT

Health Visitors offer advice, counselling and support on a wide range of health issues, for example: family planning, nutrition, maintenance of good health, postnatal depression and chronic illness. Other issues can also be discussed with your Health Visitor who can then, if necessary, initiate contact with other services on your behalf.

LOCAL COMMUNITY

The Health Visitor works closely with other agencies within the local community to identify health and environmental concerns. They liaise with local councils, schools and voluntary groups to contribute towards the health of the local community.

CHILD PROTECTION

Along with other health professionals, the Health Visitor has a responsibility for child protection issues.

The Aims of your Health Visitor are:

To promote health within the family

To support families with young children

To help and support families and individuals facing health problems

For Doctors Lee, Stefani, Chandler, Pieters and Brice your Health Visitor is Rachel Craddock.

For Doctors Puckett, Turner, Kanagasooriam, Hills, Pinnock and Osborne your Health Visitors is Pat Biers.