You may be able to claim a Healthy Start card if you are at least 10 weeks pregnant and/or have a child in your care under the age of 4. If you are eligible for the Healthy Start card, you can get free vitamins and use the card to help with buying milk (including first formula milk), vegetables and fruit.
Eating a varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables helps us stay well, as well as helping our mood and energy levels.
Less than 63% of families eligible for Healthy Start cards claim them. This means missed opportunities for healthy vitamins, food, and milk to be claimed to support their baby’s health and development.
Am I Eligible?
You’ll qualify for the Healthy Start scheme if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or you have at least one child that’s under 4.
In addition, you must be receiving any of the following:
You will also be eligible for Healthy Start if:
How Do I Apply?
You can apply online. To apply, you will need your:
You can find more information on whether you are eligible, how to apply and frequently asked questions on the NHS Healthy Start website.
Healthy Start Vitamins
Who Can Get Free Healthy Start Vitamins?
If you are eligible for the Healthy Start scheme you will also be eligible for free Healthy Start vitamins.
You can have free Healthy Start vitamins whilst you’re pregnant and until your baby’s first birthday. Eligible children can have free Healthy Start vitamin drops from birth until their 4th birthday. Children who are having 500ml or more of infant formula a day do not need Healthy Start vitamins.
Your Health Visiting team will discuss these with you at each contact and will give them out at the new birth contact to eligible children and parents who fit the criteria and have a Healthy Start card.
Alternatively, to collect your vitamins, you will need to use your Healthy Start card in participating pharmacies. Use the post code search below find your nearest participating pharmacy in Norfolk.
Why Should I Get Healthy Start Vitamins?
Young children may not get enough vitamin A and D, even if they are eating well. If you're pregnant and breastfeeding you may not get enough vitamin C, D, or folic acid.
Healthy Start vitamin products provide the correct amount of vitamins recommended by the government. They do not contain milk, egg, gluten, soya or peanut residues. They are also suitable for vegetarian and halal diets.
You can contact the Healthy Start Helpline on 0300 330 7010 or contact via the online form. Phone lines are open 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
You can contact the Healthy Child Service team by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520 631590. Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays).
If your child is 11-24 years old, FYI Norfolk is an interactive NHS website just for them. It provides reliable and trustworthy advice and support on lots of health and wellbeing topics.
You can speak to other Norfolk parents and carers by clicking our online community forum below.
Find out more about Healthy Start
