Healthy start
Granskad av Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP Senast uppdaterad av Gemma GrangeLast updated 16 maj 2018
Uppfyller patientens redaktionella riktlinjer
- Ladda nerLadda ner
- Dela
- Language
- Diskussion
- Ljudversion
- Add to preferred sources on Google
Denna sida har arkiverats.
Det har inte granskats nyligen och är inte uppdaterat. Externa länkar och referenser kanske inte längre fungerar.
Healthy Start is a government scheme that provides free vitamin supplements and vouchers for milk, fruit and vegetables and infant formula to certain pregnant women and children.
Notera: this leaflet gives a brief summary of the Healthy Start scheme and is for guidance only. It does not cover all situations, nor is it a full statement of the law. Sources of more detailed information are given at the end.
At a glance
Healthy Start is a UK scheme providing help with food and vitamins.
You may qualify if you are pregnant or have a child under four and usually if you receive certain benefits.
If you are pregnant and under 18 you automatically qualify.
Vouchers are sent every four weeks to buy milk, plain fruit and vegetables, or infant formula.
Your midwife or health visitor signs your application form.
I den här artikeln:
Video picks for Hälsovård
Fortsätt läsa nedan
Who can receive help from the Healthy Start scheme?
People who are eligible include the following:
If you are pregnant, or have at least one child under 4 years old, och you or your family are receiving one of the following:
Income Support.
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
Child Tax Credit (with a family income below £16,190).
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
Working Tax Credit (only if receiving the four-week 'run on' payment).
If you are pregnant and are under 18 years old.
How does it work?
Tillbaka till innehållIf you are accepted on to the scheme you will have vouchers sent to you in the post every four weeks. Each voucher is worth £3.10 (April 2018 rate). Pregnant women and children aged 1 to 4 years will receive one voucher for each week. Babies and infants up to 1 year old will have two vouchers for each week. You will also receive advice about healthy eating, breastfeeding, infant feeding, and how to use the vouchers.
Many well-known shops and supermarkets take part in the scheme. They exchange the vouchers for:
Fresh cow's milk.
Plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables.
Infant formula milk suitable from birth.
Many shops taking part in the scheme have a Healthy Start sticker in the window. You should use the full value of the vouchers, as you cannot have change from them.
In addition, you can have free vitamin supplements. Your midwife or health visitor will let you know how these are provided in your local area.
Fortsätt läsa nedan
How do I apply for Healthy Start vouchers?
Tillbaka till innehållYou need to fill out and send off an application leaflet. You can obtain these:
From your midwife or health visitor.
From your doctor's surgery.
By ringing the Healthy Start helpline on 0345 607 6823.
Once you have filled in the form, you need your midwife or health visitor to sign the form to confirm that you are pregnant and/or have children under the age of 4. Then send the form to the address provided.
Patient picks for Hälsovård
Allmän hälsa
Simple, secure access to your NHS GP record
Patient.info has partnered with ORB Connect - a UK, clinician-led, secure platform - to help you see and download your NHS GP records clearly and in one place. Your health information is one of your most important resources. Having access to your NHS GP record isn’t just about looking back - it’s about putting you firmly in control, supporting better care, and helping you make informed decisions every day.
by Patient infomatics team
Allmän hälsa
Träning och fysisk aktivitet
Doing regular physical activity can make people feel good about themselves and it can have a number of benefits for health. For example, it reduces the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, many cancers, type 2 diabetes and 'thinning' of the bones (osteoporosis). Regular physical activity also helps to control weight and ease stress. Ideally, the aim should be at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on at least five days of the week but even 10 minutes is better than nothing. You should aim to do at least a couple of sessions of muscle-strengthening activities per week as well.
av Dr Philippa Vincent, MRCGP
Vanliga frågor
What items can I purchase with the Healthy Start vouchers?
You can use your Healthy Start vouchers to buy fresh cow's milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and infant formula milk suitable from birth. Many shops participating in the scheme will display a Healthy Start sticker.
How often will I receive the Healthy Start vouchers once I am accepted onto the scheme?
Once you are accepted onto the scheme, your vouchers will be sent to you in the post every four weeks. Pregnant women and children aged 1 to 4 years receive one voucher per week, while babies and infants up to 1 year old receive two vouchers per week.
What happens if my purchase is less than the value of the voucher?
You should aim to use the full value of the vouchers when making a purchase. The scheme does not allow for change to be given if your items cost less than the voucher's value.
Besides vouchers, what other support does the Healthy Start scheme offer?
In addition to the food vouchers, the Healthy Start scheme also provides advice on healthy eating, breastfeeding, and infant feeding. You are also entitled to free vitamin supplements, and your midwife or health visitor can inform you how to access these locally.
Where can I get an application form for Healthy Start vouchers?
You can obtain an application leaflet from your midwife or health visitor, your doctor's surgery, or by calling the Healthy Start helpline on 0345 607 6823.
Vidare läsning och referenser
- Healthy Start; GOV.UK
Fortsätt läsa nedan
About the authorView full bio
Gemma Grange
BA (Hons), MA
Gemma joined Patient in 2017 as their Content Producer and now works for blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.
About the reviewerView full bio
Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP
General Practitioner, Medical Author
MBChB (1992), DRCOG, DFFP, MRCOG (Part 1) MRCGP (2007), DFSRH (2013), MSc - medical education (2020)
Dr Hayley Willacy was an NHS GP working in northwest England, who retired from clinical practice in 2022 after 30 years.
Artikelhistorik
Informationen på denna sida är skriven och granskad av kvalificerade kliniker.
16 maj 2018 | Senaste versionen
Fråga, dela, anslut.
Bläddra i diskussioner, ställ frågor och dela erfarenheter inom hundratals hälsorelaterade ämnen.
Känner du dig sjuk?
Bedöm dina symtom online gratis
Anmäl dig till Patientens nyhetsbrev
Din veckovisa dos av tydliga, pålitliga hälsoråd - skrivna för att hjälpa dig känna dig informerad, självsäker och i kontroll.
By subscribing you accept our Sekretesspolicy. Du kan avsluta prenumerationen när som helst. Vi säljer aldrig dina uppgifter.