The Institute of Health Visiting (IHV) has published the results from its annual health visiting survey which was completed by 1,186 practitioners across the UK. The findings highlight concerns in detecting children living with risk and vulnerability such as: children are falling below the increasing thresholds for children’s social care; and health visitors have reduced contact with families. Poverty was the greatest cause of concern for health visitors with 93% of respondents reporting an increase in the number of families affected by poverty in the last 12 months. Recommendations include: a cross-government commitment that prioritises and invests in the first 1001 days; and a greater focus on prevention and early intervention.
Read the report: Health visitors raise the alarm as more families struggle with poverty and poor health
Source: IHV
Date: 18 January 2024
