More than 90 pharmacies across Norfolk and Waveney are now distribution points for Healthy Start vitamins, making it easier than ever for eligible mothers to collect them for their children.

Healthy Start is a government scheme that provides coupons which can be exchanged for women’s and children’s vitamins with the NHS locally. Currently, 91 pharmacies in Norfolk and Waveney stock them.

Deborah Garrod, NHS Norfolk and Waveney’s Maternal, Infant Nutrition and Breastfeeding Co-ordinator, said: “Healthy Start is designed to help give children the best nutritional start in life by making healthy eating more affordable and providing the essential vitamins needed by mums and babies.

“The Healthy Start children’s vitamin drops contain vitamins A,C and D, and the vitamin tablets for mums contain vitamins C, D and folic acid.

“We are delighted that 91 pharmacies are now distribution points for the vitamins. We are working to increase uptake of the Healthy Start scheme among those who are eligible and feel that more pharmacies coming on board will make it easier for eligible mums to claim what they are entitled to. Pharmacies are for example open for a variety of hours and include some weekends and evenings making it even easier for busy families to get their vitamins.”

You qualify for Healthy Start if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old AND you or your family get:

* Income support, or
* Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance, or
* Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or
* Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit unless your family is receiving Working Tax Credit run-on only) and an annual family income of £16,190 or less.

You also qualify if you are under 18 and pregnant, even if you don’t get any of the above benefits or tax credits.

Anyone interested in registering for Healthy Start should ask their midwife, health visitor or GP practice for an application form or download or request one from the Healthy Start website www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Alternatively, call Healthy Start to request one on 0845 607 6823.

Through Healthy Start, you could get up to £93 worth of vouchers over the course of your pregnancy. If you’ve got two children aged between 1 and 4, you could qualify for Healthy Start vouchers worth over £322.40.

Healthy Start distribution centres also include children’s centres and GP practices across Norfolk and Waveney. To find the distribution centre nearest to you, visit: www.norfolk.nhs.uk/parenting-and-pregnancy-0