Hutt kids receiving their B4 School Checks

Chris Bishop, National List MP based in the Hutt Valley, says more children than ever before in the Hutt Valley are benefiting from free before school health checks.

Introduced in 2008, the B4 School Check is the final core Well Child/Tamariki Ora check. Checks are provided free through a range of community health services and include hearing, eyesight, height, weight, and oral health assessments, as well as comprehensive health and development questionnaires.

“B4 School Checks help to give children the best start at school by identifying and addressing any potential health or developmental problems at an early stage.

“90 per cent of eligible children – over 1900 kids - have received a free B4 School Check through the Hutt Valley District Health Board this year. 90% of eligible kids in high deprivation areas received a Check.

“The government’s target is 90 percent, which means we’re helping build a solid foundation for the vast majority of four-year-olds before they start school.

The Government invests around $10 million each year to provide the free checks which have benefited more than 300,000 children and their families since the programme began in 2008.

“National is focused on giving our kids the best start to life through initiatives like this and free GP visits which were extended to all children under-13 on July 1,” says Mr Bishop.

ENDS

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