Around 30 children benefited from a joint initiative between Plunket and BestStart Educare centres this week.

​Plunket and the early childhood provider ran an out-of-hours clinic for working parents, starting at 4.30pm and finishing at 6pm.

Bayfair mum Maylene Tau-Gifford with Maylene and baby Miyha.

The clinic offered free health checks for children.

BestStart Professional services manager Michela Homer says it was a first for the company.

'We knew working parents can find it a challenge to get their children to clinics within working hours. Together with Plunket, we decided to trial ​​a clinic​ for parents​ who were on their way home from picking up our children from our centres.”

Around 30 families attended the clinic at Topkids the Mount.

'We were blown away by the number of families that came through. Parents were really happy to have a clinic that complemented their working schedules,” says Michela.

Plunket​ Well Child clinic nurses ran the health checks, and further information on oral health, toileting support, car seat safety checks and child CPR was provided.

​N​eighbo​u​ring ​BestStart ​centres also got involved​, ensuring children had fun​ by providing activities​ and creating a fun atmosphere​​.

Michela says the evening created greater awareness of the work Plunket did in the community.

'​Parents told us that they weren't fully aware of all the services that Plunket offer for children up to the age of five,​ and were delighted to get the information they received.

'Creating this event allowed Plunket to showcase all the wonderful services that they can offer our children.”

The event was such a success that BestStart and Plunket could now hold the evening annually.

​"We hope this becomes an annual event to provide working families with a much-needed service by a much-loved and respected health provider,” says Michela.