Help is only a phone call away for new parents living on Vancouver Island.
The Vancouver Island Health Authority launched its Infant Feeding and New Parent Support Line, (1-855-339-6825) June 1.
The service is available every weekend 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., putting parents in touch with a public health nurse. Voice messages left after hours will be returned within 24 hours.
The goal of the service is to improve access to support, assessment, and resources for new parents – particularly women living in rural and remote areas or where weekend public health nursing service is unavailable.
Following the birth of a child, families will be provided with the support line number and information about weekly public health nursing services when they are discharged from hospital or from a registered midwife.
More information about public health services can be found at viha.ca/children.