 News
16th April 2007
Postcode lottery for health visitors
Parents in England are facing a "postcode lottery" of health visitor
provision, according to the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI).
A survey of primary care trusts (PCTs) showed the number of children
per health visitor varied greatly from region to region, ranging from
one health visitor for every 160 children under five, to one health visitor
per 1,140 under fives.
The FPI has called for ministers to ensure all parents have access to
health visitors as well as providing an intensive service for those parents
who would benefit most, a preventative service for vulnerable families
and better training for health visitors.
A separate YouGov poll, commissioned by the FPI, suggested three-quarters
of 4,775 parents asked wanted support and advice on their under five's
health and development from a trained health visitor.
Mary MacLeod, the institute's chief executive, said, "Our research clearly
shows that parents already value the service they receive.
"And yet these figures show that this service is under threat.
"In some PCTs there is now a shocking lack of provision."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said more than 300 health
visitors were being trained and it expected the number to rise next year,
despite reports by trade union Amicus saying the number of health visitors
in England had fallen to its lowest level in 12 years.
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