Digital resources transform parent support in Somerset

A new suite of digital resources launched this month will provide further information and support to families about pregnancy and parenthood.

The ‘Somerset Maternity Toolkit’, available digitally twenty-four hours a day, is designed to support people through pregnancy and the parenting journey.

It offers trustworthy information and support from pre-conception, pregnancy, through to infant feeding and support with parenthood.

It also includes a series of educational animations, an online maternity toolkit, a parent/carer toolkit and the award-winning Mum & Baby app, as well as ‘Parent Hacks’ which give useful tried and tested top tips about support available.

Always digitally accessible, it complements the virtual and face to face support offered by health and care services during Covid -19 (coronavirus) and beyond. 

Somerset County Council partnered with Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, Yeovil District Hospital and Somerset Foundation Trust to develop the new online information, which was created by professionals working with the Somerset Maternity Voices Partnership which represents parents in Somerset. Councillor Clare Paul, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Health and Wellbeing, said:” We are really excited to launch this new and innovative online platform. In a rapidly changing world, the need to digitally access accurate national and local information has never been so important.”

“This will revolutionise the way that families get support making it easier to find and more accessible.”

Val Janson, Acting Director of Quality and Nursing at Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group said

“This new platform is packed with helpful information, from those thinking about starting a family with advice on pre-conception, to pregnancy and beyond. With the minefield of information available online, it’s so important to be able to quickly find advice and guidance you can trust, along with local support available in Somerset.

I’d recommend any new parent to have this site saved in their phone as a toolbox to guide you through the journey of parenthood.”

The Somerset Maternity Toolkit is available at: https://cypsomersethealth.org/maternity_toolkit

or search online for ‘Somerset Maternity Toolkit’.