Abstract
Introduction
The NHS Healthy Start scheme provides help to purchase healthy food and milk to pregnant women and children under four years old in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (NI). Introduced in 2006, it is targeted at low-income families and young mothers aged under 18 years of age. It provides families with a payment card to buy milk, fruit and vegetables. The card can also be used to collect free multi-vitamins. The main objective of the scheme is to provide a nutritional safety net and encourage breastfeeding and healthy eating (Department of Health, 2010). Eligible individuals receive £4.25 per week and £8.50 for infants aged less than one (NHS Healthy Start, 2024). However, uptake of the scheme in Northern Ireland is lower than other parts of the United Kingdom (UK), and with soaring food prices and food inflation hitting an all-time high, access to this support is more important than ever.
The NHS Healthy Start scheme provides help to purchase healthy food and milk to pregnant women and children under four years old in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (NI). Introduced in 2006, it is targeted at low-income families and young mothers aged under 18 years of age. It provides families with a payment card to buy milk, fruit and vegetables. The card can also be used to collect free multi-vitamins. The main objective of the scheme is to provide a nutritional safety net and encourage breastfeeding and healthy eating (Department of Health, 2010). Eligible individuals receive £4.25 per week and £8.50 for infants aged less than one (NHS Healthy Start, 2024). However, uptake of the scheme in Northern Ireland is lower than other parts of the United Kingdom (UK), and with soaring food prices and food inflation hitting an all-time high, access to this support is more important than ever.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Access Research Knowledge |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Publication status | Published online - 27 Jun 2024 |