The report ‘State of Health Visiting, UK Survey Report – From disparity to opportunity: The case for rebuilding health visiting’, found:
- 84% of respondents said that the demand for health visiting support had increased over the last 12 months.
- Around 90% of practitioners reported families needing extra health visiting support for child behavioural problems, including growing concerns about neurodevelopmental issues like autism and ADHD. Child behaviour problems were ranked 2nd in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- 86% of respondents in England said that poverty affecting families was a major issue for families needing extra health visiting support and 82% said that children with safeguarding concerns below the threshold for Children’s Social Care was a major reason that families needed extra health visiting support.
- 73% of health visitors surveyed said workforce shortages impacted on their ability to support families when a need was identified.
- Only 45% of health visitors in England are able to provide continuity of care to families “all or most of the time”, compared to 90% in Scotland, 86% in Northern Ireland and 85% in Wales.
RCPCH Officer for Health Improvement, Dr Helen Stewart, said:
Health visitors play a pivotal role in creating and maintaining the good health and wellbeing of children and their families. They are regularly described as a safety net and are essential in both prevention and early intervention of ill health in babies and young children, which we know is a key area of focus in the upcoming 10-year plan. However, far too often their services are overlooked and underfunded.
The findings in this survey reflect what paediatricians are also seeing on a day-to-day basis. The health of our children is deteriorating, and services are increasingly unable to meet their needs. We already know that a significant portion of lifelong health issues begin in childhood and adolescence and, if untreated, can lead to higher rates of illness and worsening health conditions over time.
The situation for children is bleak and, if action is not taken, will have devastating consequences for our national health and economy. We have welcomed the government’s much needed ambitions on children’s health and wellbeing and stand ready to work with the government to achieve their goal of delivering the healthiest generation of children ever. However, more details are needed on how much support and investment is going to be provided to the over-burdened child health workforce.