MPs urged to show support for more London health visitors
6th November 2009
MPs are being urged to highlight the health visitor crisis in
London by signing a House of Commons early day motion (EDM).
The EDM, sponsored by Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, John
McDonnell, comes after the true scale of the health visiting crisis
in London was exposed by Unite, which embraces the Community
Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association.
The EDM calls on ministers to undertake ‘an immediate
investigation into health visitor staffing levels in London’ and to
work with Unite, and other relevant unions to address this staff
shortage.
It continues: "This house notes with concern the recent report
in the Community Practitioner journal highlighting the worsening
crisis in London in health visiting services in which staff
shortages have resulted in high caseloads, delayed for primary
assessments and mounting pressure upon staff which in turn has
produced staff retention problems."
Unite’s research showed that the situation in a number of the
capital’s primary care trusts (PCTs) was getting worse, as the
number of new health visitor registrations nationally has slumped
from 712 in 2005 to 253 in 2008.
Unite has said that an extra 8,000 health visitors need to be
employed nationally to carry out the government’s ‘family friendly’
agenda and has welcomed the supportive statements from both health
secretary, Andy Burnham, and children, schools and families
secretary, Ed Balls on the need for more health visitors and school
nurses.
Unite national officer for health, Karen Reay, said: "John
McDonnell’s EDM is very welcome and adds to the growing realisation
that health visitors are essential when supporting families and
their health needs. They also play a vital role in child protection
and ensuring that there are no more tragic Baby P cases."
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