Published: 27 February 2008
Will the Government admit the Logic?
A large boost to the health visitor workforce is ‘the next logical step’, following the government’s announcement of an extra 4,000 midwives in England over the next three years.
Unite/Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association said if midwives are to be increased because of the rising birth rate, the next link in the chain of childhood development – health visitors – also needs to be strongly reinforced.
Unite Head of Health, Kevin Coyne said:
“The government has recognised the need for more midwives – which is very welcome news – but ministers now need to concentrate on the next logical step which is the employment of many more health visitors”.
Unite/CPHVA has campaigned hard for more health visitors to fulfill the government’s ‘family-friendly’ agenda – but the latest NHS workforce statistics show that a ‘health visitor job-a-day’ is being lost.
The need for more health visitors is set against a backdrop of a 14-year low in numbers and a severe reduction in training budgets – a 40% cut in health visitor training places in England was revealed by Unite/CPHVA, using the Freedom of Information Act, during the academic year, 2006/2007.
Unite/CPHVA Professional Officer, Rita Newland said:
“Health visitors play a vital role in the early stages of a baby’s life, advising on breast feeding, immunisations and the mental health of mothers”.
Health visitors usually make their first visit to the new baby after ten days. Midwives usually bow out a week after the birth, but have a legal responsibility for 28 days.
Further information
CPHVA website
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