Lloyds Pharmacy has launched a baby welfare pack for new and expectant mothers as part of its "social pharmacy" strategy, which sees pharmacies as a place to provide social and welfare advice alongside health care information.
The pack contains leaflets and booklets from the Department of Social Security and Department for Education and Employment giving details of benefits and welfare schemes to which mothers may be entitled. These include the "sure start" maternity grant, child benefit for lone parents and advice on starting or returning to work.
The pack will be available from more than 700 of the company's branches. It will be backed by information from nominated baby advisers in the pharmacies.

Judith Atkins, baby adviser, (left) explains the baby welfare pack to a young mother