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Current picture of health visiting 'bleak' as 'severe' shortage of practitioners continues amid increased demand

There is ‘soaring demand’ for health visitors whose practice is being dominated by families experiencing poverty and with children who have safeguarding concerns below the threshold for social care.
PHOTO: iHV

At the same time, there continues to be a severe shortage of health visitors and ‘significant’ disparities in service provision, reveal findings from the Institute of Health Visiting’s (iHV) survey.

The ‘State of Health Visiting, UK Survey Report - From disparity to opportunity: The case for rebuilding health visiting’, finds:

Alison Morton, chief executive of the iHV, said, ‘The report highlights the urgent need for investment in health visiting services.

‘The needs of babies, children and families must lie at the heart of all service transformation – currently too many have been left waiting too long without the support that they need, which we know can make such a big difference to their outcomes.

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