Rosie Winterton

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HEALTHY START FOR DONCASTER FAMILIES

Health Ministers Rosie Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central and Caroline Flint, MP for Don Valley together with Cllr. Eva Hughes, Cabinet Member for Public Health at Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, will be available at the
NCH Wheatley Sure Start Children’s Centre, (Old Middle School) Beckett Road, Wheatley, Doncaster at 9.00 a.m. for a photo call to highlight the Government’s Healthy Start programme.

The Healthy Start programme, launched by Public Health Minister Caroline Flint on 27 November 2006 replaces the Welfare Food Scheme, and will benefit families on low income and encourage a healthy diet from the early stages of a child’s life.

Caroline said:  “Poor diet can have a real impact on people's health. This new scheme will not only provide greater choice of healthy food, but will also mean that children can get milk and fresh fruit and vegetables from the cradle up, helping to give them the best possible start in life."

Rosie Winterton MP said: “A healthy diet is important for everyone, but for families on low income this is sometimes easier said than done.  Healthy Start provides an opportunity for low-income pregnant women and children to receive information and advice from health professionals on breastfeeding and healthy eating and get vouchers to help keep the family healthy.”

The programme will better support mothers who breastfeed by introducing equal benefits for both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding mothers, increase flexibility, allowing parents to buy fruit & vegetables, as well as milk.  It will also deliver faster, simpler reimbursement for retailers, free vitamin supplements will be an important part of the new scheme and for the first time the scheme will be open to all pregnant women under the age of 18.

Cllr Eva Hughes said: “I welcome this initiative which compliments the council’s Extended Fruits into Schools project and the improved school meals.  I would encourage families to ring the hotline on 08701 555 455 to find out if they are eligible and obtain an application form. ”

Those families currently getting Welfare Food Scheme milk tokens need not complete an application form, as they will be automatically transferred onto the new scheme.