YOUNG people, parents and carers can now ‘chat health’ with school nurses or health visitors using a new text messaging service.

Somerset’s public health nursing service has boosted its health and wellbeing advice with the launch of ‘ChatHealth’, an award-winning, digital NHS-approved platform.

ChatHealth allows public health nursing teams across the country to reach out to their local communities – and Somerset County Council can now offer this service too.

Parents, carers and families of under-fives can seek confidential advice and support on a range of concerns, such as infant feeding and nutrition and parenting and child development, from their local health visiting team by text.

Those with children and young people aged five to 19 will also be able to text the local school nursing team in the same way for parenting advice and support.

Eleven to 19-year-olds in Somerset will be able to find confidential advice and support from their local school nursing service on a range of health and wellbeing issues, including bullying, relationships and emotional health, by text.

A winner of the NHS Innovation Challenge Award, the service can provide advice, information and guidance, and signpost to other services if needed. It does not replace face-to-face services but it offers a way to get in touch for those who feel reluctant to talk about difficult or sensitive issues.

Jo Smith, head of Public Health Nursing Somerset, said: “Our health visitors have a wealth of experience working with mums and dads-to-be, babies, toddlers and young children, and our School Nurses with parents and young people of five to 19 years of age.

“Having the addition of ChatHealth will enable our teams to respond to parents, carers, families and young people making it even easier for them to access the information and support they need digitally as well as the usual methods we currently deliver.

“This is a really positive step in our local transformation programme for public health nursing, demonstrating a commitment by all partners involved to better respond to the needs of parents, children and young people in an innovative and timely way.”

 The ChatHealth service is available Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, including school holidays and excluding bank holidays.

 Anyone sending a text outside these hours will receive an automated message with advice on where to get help if they require it urgently.  When the service reopens the sender will then receive a reply to the message.

ChatHealth runs alongside the normal public health nursing service. Contact details are: Health visiting under-fives parent service 07480 635514; school nursing five to 19 parent service 07480 635515; school nursing 11 to 19 young people’s service 07480 635516.