More Health Visitors a windfall for families

Family and Parenting Institute

The Government's plan to increase the number of Health Visitors was described as a 'windfall for families' today (Thursday 12 February 2009) by the Family and Parenting Institute.

The Department of Health pledged 'stronger and better joined up support during the crucial early years of life including more Health Visitors' in the Child Health Strategy.*

The Family and Parenting Institute has been campaigning for a universal health visiting service since 2007. The announcement came as the Family and Parenting Institute released its new fact sheet: 'Health Visitors – where are we now?'

Its report 'Health Visitors an endangered species' (published in April 2007) highlighted how the service had been reduced to a postcode lottery. Some families gave their local health visiting service a glowing bill of health – seeing their Health Visitor for ten hours in the first year of their child's life.

But other families were not so fortunate and some barely saw a Health Visitor -14% of parents said they spent less than an hour with their Health Visitor in their baby's first year.

Honor Rhodes, Director of Development at the Family and Parenting Institute said: "Parents tell us they love Health Visitors. They give a uniquely valuable service that cannot be found elsewhere, parents trust their advice and turn to them easily when they are anxious or concerned about their new child.

"A child's earliest months are a unique opportunity to help parents equip themselves to be the best parents they can be for the rest of their child's life. This decision today is one of the most important things that government could do in terms of helping every child have a bright future.

"We are very pleased that the Government has been listening to what we and parents have been saying about the need for more Health Visitors. We just hope the plans to increase the number of Health Visitors will rectify the postcode lottery and that mothers and fathers across the country receive the support they want and need from a well trained Health Visitor."

The Family and Parenting Institute is determined to keep up the pressure of its campaign until England has a universal health visiting service. Yesterday (Wednesday 11 February 2009) it put in a freedom of information request to all PCTs in the country to find out how many children under five each Health Visitor sees. The findings will be published in April.

Added Honor: "It is parents love and need for Health Visitors that has driven our campaign. It is totally unacceptable for one parent to receive more support in the early years of their child's live than another – just because of where they live. We are delighted the Government has recognised the important role they play in helping parents."

- ENDS -

• * The Child Health Strategy
• **Find out more about the Family and Parenting Institute's Health Visitor campaign

For more information
Please contact Emma Brennan on 020 7424 3477, press@familyandparenting.org or out of hours 078139 51418.

Notes to editors
The Family and Parenting Institute researches what matters to families and parents. We use our knowledge to influence policymakers and foster public debate. We develop ideas to improve the services families use and the environment in which children grow up.

February 2009

child health, wellbeing, postnatal depression, mothers, fathers