Celebrating health visitors on International Nurses Day 2026

12th May 2026

“Happy International Nurses Day” – on behalf of everyone at the iHV, we thank health visitors and their teams for their ongoing dedication and support as we continue striving for better outcomes for every family.

On International Nurses Day (12 May), we are reminded of the vital function of nurses across the globe and the many roles and ways in which nursing plays out to make a difference to human life. In the UK, we have a universal public health nursing workforce – identified as health visitors. Health visitors are skilled in attending to prevention, in providing health interventions in the home and community settings to provide a critical safety net for families navigating ordinary life and the transitions that unfold.

However, it is no ordinary workforce, it is a precious resource – often invisible behind closed doors, enabling action and personal attention to the private acts of strengthening family bonds and creating a secure safe environment for babies to grow.

Health visitors are a workforce driven by the imperative to invest in early life, optimise health opportunity for all whatever the social context, and capitalise on the strengths of individuals and groups for the sake of human health. They artfully apply knowledge of human development, nutrition, disease prevention, illness management and much more. The universal reach of health visiting aims to ensure that all babies are invested in and that those with greater need are known, understood, and supported with additional help matched to need.

“I am a health visitor because I’m honoured to walk alongside families in their hardest and happiest moments, offering care, reassurance, and hope so every child can truly flourish from the very beginning.”
(Claire Scothern, iHV Fellowship Scholar)

“I am a health visitor because I have the privilege of working alongside families at one of the most important and formative times in their lives. I am deeply committed to ensuring every baby, child and family receives the right support at the right time. I believe wholeheartedly that SEND is everyone’s business, and I am passionate about championing inclusion, recognising and valuing difference from the very start of life, and advocating for equitable care so that no family feels overlooked or unsupported.”
(Nikki Freeman, Health Visitor Clinical Lead for SEND, East and North Herts Quadrants of Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust )

“One moment can change everything for a child’s future; that’s why I became a health visitor.”
(Elizabeth Begley, , iHV Fellowship Scholar, Enhanced Health Visitor Manager, Homerton Foundation NHS Trust.)

“I’m a proud health visitor, because as a specialist public health nurse supporting families from pregnancy through the early years, our work goes far beyond weighing babies. We assess development, support feeding, sleep and behaviour, and spot early concerns like postnatal depression, domestic abuse or safeguarding issues. Much of what we do is quiet, preventative and behind the scenes, but its impact on children and families lasts a lifetime.”
(Knoena Hussey, iHV Fellowship Scholar)

“I am a health visitor because I believe in human potential and what can be realised when acting early and taking a strengths based approach to health.”
(Karen Whittaker, iHV Senior Education and Workforce Lead)

Celebrating the achievements of health visitors

At the iHV, we celebrate the achievements of health visitors making a difference either through their work directly with families and communities, their investment in the next generation through provision of education and learning, or through their leadership and influence on policies that shape positive change. Join us in this celebration by making nominations to the iHV Awards 2026 which are now open for the following categories:

The iHV Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of those who have made an outstanding contribution to our profession – driving best practice, transforming care, improving outcomes, and demonstrating excellence in health visiting – providing well-deserved recognition for individuals and teams who are truly exceptional. In addition, the iHV invests in health visitor leadership through The Dame Elizabeth Fradd Leadership Programme: iHV Fellows. Read more about the Fellows programme here.