26th June 2013
The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) welcomes the Department of Health report of a rise of over 1000 health visitors in the workforce.
The iHV is delighted that as a result of a massive effort on behalf of the government and the NHS, more than 1000 new health visitors are entering the workforce.
Director of the iHV, Dr Cheryll Adams said: ‘Whilst the numbers of health visitors are still at their lowest ratio to number of children, for more than 30 years, this news demonstrates the commitment of this government to ensuring that their target of 4200 new health visitors this parliament will be met. This very positive announcement will also act to motivate a very busy workforce in their delivery of the Healthy Child Programme, as they will now know that the cavalry really is about to come over the hill!
The beneficiaries will be children, families and communities with health visitors now being better resourced to promote health and support vulnerable families.
It is very important to acknowledge the extraordinary leadership that it has taken both within the Department of Health, and in the NHS to deliver this increase since May 2010 against what seemed, to many detractors, to be an impossible target in the time span. It is essential though not to take the ‘foot off the accelerator’ until all 4200 new posts have been filled.
The iHV looks forward to playing their part in supporting health visitors to deliver high quality, evidence based services in the future and to helping demonstrate the difference these professionals can make to the public’s health.’
For further information about the Institute of Health Visiting please contact Director, Dr Cheryll Adams, [email protected] or 0207 265 7352
Notes to editors
- DH press statement: Big milestone for health visitors today – over 1,000 more working in NHS since 2010, http://bit.ly/17XLTRn
- The Institute of Health Visiting was launched by Dr Dan Poulter, MP, on 28 November 2012
- More information about the Institute of Health Visiting can be found at www.ihv.org.uk
- Follow the Institute of Health Visiting on Twitter at @iHealthVisiting
