Start for Life renamed Healthy Babies programme

New Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies: guidance for local authorities was published by the government on 4th December, confirming a further change in terminology.  The guidance states that Start for Life services are to be renamed Healthy Babies services.  ‘Core services’ are still parent-infant relationships, infant feeding and perinatal mental health. 

Speaking to the 75 local authorities who previously received ‘Start for Life’ funding, the government say they expect these services are already being delivered in accordance with the 8 delivery expectations set out for the initial phase of the programme.

Looking ahead, the plan is to consolidate, embed and enhance the offer, expanding the reach to more families.  While this provides welcome certainty to the 75 local areas already involved, MPs have questioned where this leaves other local areas, who were expecting national roll-out. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Babies (Pregnancy to Age Two) have written to the Health Secretary on this matter.