A SPECIAL health bus came rolling into Colchester with a focus on supporting maternity services.

The NHS Be Well Bus is owned by the ICB (Integrated Care Board) and is designed to cater to many different healthcare problems.

For the first time, it’s being used with a focus on maternity.

Local Maternity and Neonatal Systems (LMNS) supports maternity service teams and families in north east Essex and Suffolk.

The group works to improve safety, develop plans, and introduce new ways of working to deliver the best clinical outcomes.

Gazette: Services- The bus carries local midwives who specialise in physio and pelvic health, smoking support, and more. Services- The bus carries local midwives who specialise in physio and pelvic health, smoking support, and more. (Image: Claudia Bradley, Newsquest)

Rachel Chilver, LMNS’s maternity and neonatal safety co-production lead, organised the bus stops until October.

She said: “The Be Well Bus is making help and advice and support very much accessible to people and communities.

“We’re able to offer everything that a family hub offers, but it’s literally in a car park on your doorstep.”

The bus has midwives on board from local maternity services who specialise in smoking support, physio and pelvic health, and infant feeding leads.

Rachel added: “We’re bringing all kinds of healthcare professionals to different areas, so you can come in and get advice at any point during the day.”

The bus has already visited Greenstead before travelling to Firstsite.

On June 25, the bus will be in Harwich’s Asda car park and seafront, before coming back to Colchester on July 30 to Castle Park and Asda car park.

The tour includes stops at Walton, Tiptree, Halstead and Clacton.

Gazette: Support- Joyce McIntyre called two passing mothers into the bus to see the services it offers. Support- Joyce McIntyre called two passing mothers into the bus to see the services it offers. (Image: Claudia Bradley, Newsquest)

Joyce McIntyre, a community ambassador from African Families, said it’s hard for migrants especially to access services at home.

She said: “Being in the community in a bus like this is the perfect way to be visible for them to just come.

“I think the bus being in the community is a big thing for them, it means they can accept our services.”

The website has a wealth of information about local maternity services and caring for your baby, with a series of pregnancy and birth films made with local midwives and LMNS.

It also has ‘Find your community’ pages for groups including LGBTQ parents and survivors of sexual abuse.

For more information, visit maternity.sneewellbeing.org.uk.