Healthy Start (Vitamins and financial support)

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Service update 9/5/2025 - Kidderminster Hospital

We are pleased to confirm that this morning’s incident at Kidderminster Hospital has now been stood down. All patients with community mental health appointments scheduled today will have been contacted by our teams. We do not anticipate any further disruption to services following today’s events, and we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Healthy Start Scheme

Healthy Start banner Healthy Start is a Government scheme to help buy healthy food and milk and collect vitamins if you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4.

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. The Government will add your benefit onto this card every 4 weeks. You can use your card to buy:

plain liquid cow’s milk
fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
infant formula milk based on cow’s milk

You can also use your card to collect:

Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old

For more information about the scheme, visit the NHS Healthy Start website.

Who can get free Healthy Start vitamins?

Women can have Healthy Start vitamin tablets while they’re pregnant and up to their baby’s 1st birthday. Children can have free Healthy Start vitamin drops from the age of 4 weeks until their 4th birthday. If you are not eligible for the Healthy Start Scheme, there is a small charge for vitamins — see below.

Do I still need vitamins if I eat a healthy diet?

You will get most of the vitamins you need from food. However, young children may not get enough vitamin A and D even if they are eating well. Pregnant and breastfeeding women may not get enough vitamin D or folic acid. Both vitamins are important for the health of you and your baby.

Paying for Healthy Start vitamins

Unless you have a Healthy Start card, there is a small charge for vitamins.

Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding £1.00
Vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old £1.80

Where cash payments are made, please have exact change available. We apologise, but we're unable to accept payment by debit/credit card.

Where can I collect vitamins?

Vitamins are available for collection at locations across Worcestershire. Please use the map and drop-down menus below to find a collection point near you.