Supporting Sutton’s youngest residents

They help to prevent illness and promote health, and provide specialist support on topics such as mental health and feeding.

Before the pandemic, the Infant Feeding Team ran four clinics throughout the week and a coffee group on Wednesday afternoons. When the first lockdown began, all face-to-face support was initially lost. 

“It was very challenging - mums do need face to face support,” says Morwenna, Infant Feeding Coordinator. 

The Team worked with St Helier Hospital to set up a virtual infant feeding clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“We’ve found it quite invaluable - if they’ve just had a c-section, they don’t need to leave the house to get support with feeding.

“We’ve become much better with our communication, because we have to be - we have to be able to explain to mums how to hold their babies to feed.”

The team has grown its online presence to continue meeting the needs of Sutton’s families: the Facebook page has details of information sessions, coffee groups, virtual activities; while this video was created to inform parents of the mental health support available to them. 

Find out more about the health visiting service and how to contact them on the Sutton Health and Care website.

This is just one of hundreds of services we provide in Sutton. But we are facing a big challenge. 

More than 70% of our budget goes towards caring for Sutton’s vulnerable adults and children. Following COVID-19, more people are needing our help, while the cost of services is increasing.

Find out how we’re going to protect those needing our care and support Sutton’s recovery over the next 12 months.

For regular updates from Sutton Council, please subscribe to our resident newsletter, Sutton Scene.