Child Health: Homes for Ukraine
Services and care available through the NHS for children.
Register your child with a doctor
To find your nearest GP service and for more information see register with a doctor and get medication.
If you have just had a baby, make sure you register them with your doctor as soon as possible so you can access care for your baby when you need to.
Find out how to register with a GP surgery in Scotland.
Health visitors
A health visitor is a nurse or midwife who has had extra training. They can help you, your family or new baby stay healthy. They can also tell you about local groups where you can meet other parents.
They will normally visit you at home 10 days after you have had a baby. After that they may continue to visit you at home, or at a health clinic or GP surgery.
If you’re struggling with your mental health after having a baby, talk to your health visitor. They can make sure you’re in contact with the right services and offer you advice.
Emergency treatment
Walk in or urgent treatment centres
Getting medication
See register with a doctor and get medication.
Coronavirus vaccinations
Most people in the UK have received at least one of their coronavirus vaccinations and it is likely that all the adults in your host’s household will have received theirs.
For the latest guidance on what to do if you have or suspect you have the virus, look at the UK government’s COVID-19 advice webpage (page not translated).
Booking a coronavirus vaccination
You can book your child’s covid vaccination online for:
- 1st and 2nd doses for people who are 5 years old and over
- additional primary doses for people with a severely weakened immune system aged 5 years old and over
- 1st booster for people aged 16 years old and over, plus at-risk children aged 12 to 15 years old
If your child turned 5 years old after 1 September 2022 they can only get a 1st and 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine if they’re either:
- at high risk due to a health condition or because of a weakened immune system
- living with someone who has a weakened immune system
If your child had a vaccination outside of the UK
If your child has already had a COVID-19 vaccine in Ukraine or somewhere else, speak to your GP about which doses they should have in the UK, and when they should have them.
You should also tell the NHS about any COVID-19 vaccinations that they had outside of the UK, so the NHS can update your child’s vaccination record.
You can make an appointment online to update their record, using the National Booking Service. You can also call 119 to update your child’s record, and they will have translators available.
Mental Health
You can find out what mental health support is available if you are a parent or a young person who needs support. (page not translated).
There are many other organisations that can provide mental health services for children.
Dentistry/dental care and services
NHS dental care for children is free.
You can search for local dentists and ask to register for an appointment. Find out how to find an NHS dentist.
If your child’s teeth or your gums are painful, call 111 on your phone for NHS Urgent Dental Care Services.
Scotland provides free dental checks. You can find a dentist near you, find out more about receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland
Eye care
Eye checks are offered to newborn babies and young children to identify any problems as early as possible.
Children under 16 years old, or up to 19 years old if they’re still in full time education, can also have free eye tests at an optician.
You can find out more about the types of eye tests children have at different ages. (page not translated)
Protection against infectious diseases
NHS vaccinations are free to everyone and give the best protection to children and adults against infectious diseases such as:
- meningitis
- mumps
- measles
- rubella
The NHS has a list of vaccinations that children should have at specific ages. This is to make sure they are protected at the right time.
Some of the vaccinations are given by a doctor in a GP surgery (usually for babies) and others will be given by a nurse or a doctor when your child is at school.
Speak to your GP if you think you or your child have missed any vaccinations and to arrange an appointment.
Speech and language development
If you’re concerned about your child’s development, speak to other people who know your child such as a doctor, district nurse, health visitor, child’s nursery or school.
Where it is a felt that the child would benefit from support from a speech and language therapist, any of these people, including the parent, can make a direct referral to the service.