Parentline confidential texting service

Parentline is an easy way for parents and carers to ask for help

A confidential texting service, Parentline, is available to help parents and carers. During these unsettling times, you may have health and wellbeing concerns about your baby or young child and be unsure how to get the help you need. Parentline is a confidential text messaging service for parents and carers across Nottinghamshire.

The texting service is an easy way for parent and carers of children aged 0–19 years to confidentially ask for help about a range of issues, such as:

• Feeding and nutrition
• Child development
• Parenting advice and support
• Emotional health and wellbeing
• Behaviour difficulties
• Family health

You can contact the Healthy Family Teams and find out how to access other local services, for example, the School Health Team, breastfeeding support, or Health Visitor led sessions. Parents and carers can contact the text messaging service for advice from Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm, excluding bank holidays. Messages sent to the dedicated number are delivered to a secure website and responded to by the Healthy Family Teams. Texts are usually replied to within one working day. Automatic replies will be sent to any messages received out of hours explaining where to get help if your question is urgent, and when you can expect a response.

The Healthy Family Teams are pleased to be able to offer Parentline to parents and carers in the county. It makes accessing health services easier and more accessible, increasing our reach to all families, and creating another platform for parents and carers to connect.

Text Parentline on 07520 619919.

We might inform someone if we were concerned about your safety, but we would usually speak to you first. Your messages are stored and can be seen by other health care staff who follow the same confidentiality rules. We aim to reply to you within one working day and you should get an immediate message back to confirm we have received your text. Text will only be seen between (9am and 4.30pm). If you need help before you hear back from us contact your GP, nearest walk in centre or dial 111. Our text number does not receive voice calls or MMS picture messages. We support messaging from UK mobile numbers only (which does not include messages sent from landlines, international mobile numbers, and some ‘number masking’ mobile apps). To prevent the health professional from sending messages to you, text STOP to our number. Messages are charged at your usual rates.