Dentists provide treatment to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy and free of pain. Under 18’s should have a check up at least once a year.
The following services are available to all families across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Please note that some services are located in Devon where families access health services across the Cornwall / Devon border
Maternity services
Midwifery services support all families from conception, during pregnancy, birth and up to 28 days after birth.
Cornwall
Maternity services within Cornwall are run by Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
Kernow Maternity Voices is a partnership service run by Healthwatch Cornwall. You can find support on their website and Facebook page
Devon
Maternity services within Plymouth are run by Plymouth Hospitals Trust
Maternity services within the rest of Devon are run by Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Trust
Devon Maternity Voices Partnership is run by Evolving communities. You can contact them via:
- Email: charlotte@devonmaternityvoices.org.uk
- Phone/text: 07943861420
- Twitter: @devonmaternity
- Facebook: Better Births Devon
- Website: evolvingcommunities.co.uk/devon-mvp
Health Visiting
Health visiting services support all families in the later stage of pregnancy until your child is 2½. However we can support you and your child until they are 5; they will the be supported by the school nurse team.
Health visiting is run by Cornwall Council for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Find out about the service, including clinics and support available.
Drop in clinics are available in your local area:
Health and development contacts are made at the following intervals:
- Antenatal
- New birth visit
- 6-8 week review
- 9-12 month review
- 2-2 1/2 year review
Find out about health and development contacts
Feeding your baby
Our health visiting teams provide infant feeding and breastfeeding support. This includes:
- an essential guide
- local breastfeeding peer support including a Facebook group and community based drop-in groups
The Infant Feeding Team at Royal Cornwall Hospital provide support and advice, including more specialist support.
Visit the RCHT infant feeding team
Healthy Cornwall provides free and face to face based sessions on how and when to introduce solid foods into your baby's diet.
Register a birth
Every birth in England and Wales must be registered within 42 days (6 weeks) of your baby being born.
Find out about registering your baby's birth
GPs
You can find a list of GPs on the NHS website
Dentists
Childcare
A full list of early years providers is available from the Family Information Service on 0800 587 8191.
- Childcare and funding Childcare and funding
- Play groups: Tots About - Cornwall's free guide for bump to 5
- Early years foundation stage and early years education provision
Family Hubs
Family Hubs offer family support and community health services to families with children aged 9 months to 25 years. Services available include:
- early help
- early years
- education
- health
- parenting
Find out what's on at our Family hubs
Family Information Service
The Family Information Service (FIS) supports families across Cornwall with free and impartial information and advice.
Visit the Family Information Service
Libraries
Cornwall's Library Service provides access to a wide range of books for leisure and learning, plus: DVDs, online newspapers, eBooks, eAudiobooks, online magazines, music scores, plays and local information.
Our children's library provides bookstart, rhyme time and storytime sessions for babies and children which are free and fun.
Visit the children's library information
Being Active
Active Cornwall is the leading advocate in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for the power of physical activity. This includes the benefits that physical activity can bring to people and places, particularly those with the fewest opportunities and the most barriers, and those who have the greatest to gain from a physically active lifestyle.
Find out about activities during pregnancy and for new parents
Parenting
We have a range of free courses available for parents / carers on a variety of topics to help you and your family. You can access these via the links below:
Find out about our face to face courses
Our face to face parenting courses are bookable via the Early Help Hub
DadPad
DadPad is the essential guide for new dads. As a new dad you will feel excited, but you may also feel left out, unsure or overwhelmed. The DadPad can help by giving you the knowledge and practical skills that you need. The resource will support you and your partner to give your baby the best possible start in life.