“It’s a daunting thing to become a parent - and the Conservatives are determined to do all they can to help in a child’s early life,” said Tom Biggins, Conservative candidate for Telford.

Tom has led a number of campaigns to defend local services - such as fighting the closure of Randlay Post Office, saving services at the Princess Royal Hospital and supporting local GP surgeries threatened by polyclinics - and is determined to retain the children’s service known as Sure Start.

“Labour have falsely accused the Conservatives of planning to cut £200 million from the Sure Start budget – almost 20 per cent,” explained Tom. “But people shouldn’t believe Labour’s desperate spin. We fully support Sure Start. In fact we want to boost the Sure Start programme by making it work better by becoming more health-led.

“Despite the importance of a child’s early years, Labour has cut the number of properly-trained health visitors by 2,000. That is why we will pay for 4,200 new, trained health visitors. This will give parents much better support in the crucial years of their child’s life.”

Tom pointed out: “Families in and around Telford need support in the crucial early years of their child’s life. Now more than ever, Labour should be coming up with ways of helping families rather than playing on their fears.”

Health visiting service for every family

The Conservatives have drawn up plans for a universal health visiting service for every family. By the end of its first Parliament, a Conservative Government will give parents a minimum guarantee of:

Two home visits during the later weeks of pregnancy to advise them on nutrition, health and preparing to raise their child.
Six hours of Health Visitor support in their home during the first two weeks of their child’s life.
Home visits every two weeks for the next six months.
Monthly visits, either in the home or in a Health Visitor base, for children aged 6-12 months to support parents as their child starts eating solids and as they try to establish good sleep patterns.
At least two visits every year for child aged 1-5 for advice on injections, hearing and vision tests, and other developmental checks.
A Conservative Government will also establish a £10 million-a-year Child Health Inequality Fund to support families in our most deprived areas.
Also promised is a new system of Flexible Parental Leave, with parents being entitled to share maternity leave. The first 14 weeks will automatically apply to the mother, then it will be up to both parents how they use the remaining time.