This article looks at how parents and carers can use text messaging to have safe and secure conversations with health visitors about a range of issues. It describes how a new text messaging enquiries service for parents and carers was successfully adopted by staff and service users, achieving a high level of uptake over a short period of time.

The article also discusses how a text messaging service of this nature can extend a service’s reach, offer support that may not have been previously sought, help users to make informed and objective health choices, and support staff to work more efficiently, while offering users greater flexibility in how they interact with health professionals.

The service changes described in this article took place at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, which set up a text messaging enquiries service in November 2016 to support parents or carers of babies and children aged 0-5 years, in readiness for launching its new Healthy Together 0-19s team.