For vulnerable children and families, accessing health services is often difficult believes Nikki Leach, district manager at the newly opened Seven Trees children's centre. "You have to be quite organised to have contact with health services," she explains. "Usually a parent has to make an appointment, and the clinic could be two bus rides away.
"For some families this is quite difficult. If you have an alcohol or drug problem you might not be very engaged with health provision, especially if it's not easy to get to."
However, local Blackburn parents visiting the new centre for assessments or drop-in sessions with the family outreach team are now able to visit health visitors in the same building. This community-based, multi-agency approach means health professionals are able to access hard-to-reach families more easily. "If help is there when you need it, you're more likely to access it," claims Leach.
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