iHV submits response to Integration of Primary and Community Care Committee

iHV has submitted its response to the Integration of Primary and Community Care Committee – a Lords Select Committee.

The Committee, appointed to consider the integration of primary and community care, invited views on the delivery of integrated primary and community care services as part of its inquiry and was particularly keen to receive submissions from those with direct experience of accessing or delivering primary and community care services.

The inquiry was set up to explore improved ways to integrate the delivery of effective primary and community care services. It will consider the challenges facing the sector and any barriers preventing further integration. The success of existing models of integration will be examined, including the role of Primary Care Networks and Integrated Care Systems. Access to primary and community care services will also be considered, as well as accountability and decision-making.

Read iHV's response to the Integration of Primary and Community Care Committee

Opportunity: NICE Quality Standards Advisory Committee for postnatal care

NICE is currently updating its quality standard for postnatal care and has a vacancy for a health visitor to join the committee to develop this.

If you would like to help NICE with this work, please apply via the NICE website by 24 January.

Find out more and how to apply

Disappointment at Government Response to Petitions Committee report

The Government has given their response to the Petitions Committee’s landmark report on the impact of COVID-19 on maternity and parental leave.

The report was the result of an extensive inquiry following an e-petition calling for the Government to extend maternity leave by 3 months with pay in light of COVID-19 which received over 226,000 signatures, and to which Dr Cheryll Adams contributed some evidence via Zoom in May earlier this year (see iHV at Petition Select Committee).

Dr Cheryll Adams commented on today’s news on the Government Response:

“The Government Response to the report by the Petitions Committee’s recommendations on the impact of COVID-19 on parental leave is a disappointing response by government to such powerful lobbying by parents. So many new families have struggled during the past 6 months and more acknowledgement of that, in the form of positive responses to at least some of the recommendations, would have meant that they felt more valued in their essential role of bringing up the next generation.”

Read Petition Committee express disappointment at Government response to its report on impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave

Read The impact of COVID-19 on maternity and parental leave: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report

iHV at Petition Select Committee

Today, Dr Cheryll Adams CBE appeared before the House of Commons Petitions Committee to talk about the petition “Extend maternity leave by 3 months with pay in light of COVID-19“. She contributed some evidence and raised the profile of the work of health visitors during COVID-19.

The meeting took place via Zoom and was shown on Parliament TV.