Empty promises

Unite accused the government of making empty promises over increasing the number of health visitors after shock figures released by the Labour party on Tuesday (October 17) showed a major fall in health visiting posts.

 
Unite, which incorporates the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association (CPHVA), pointed to Labour’s figures that show the number of health visitors has fallen by 903 since 2016. According to Labour’s analysis 12 per cent of babies have missed out on a new born visit in the most recent period.

 
The figures came ahead of Labour’s shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth’s speech to the annual CPHVA conference in Cardiff on Tuesday (October 17). In his speech Jonathan Ashworth pledged to increase the number of health visitors as part of Labour’s commitment to improving child and health wellbeing.

Unite national officer for health Sarah Carpenter said, “These figures show that the Tory government’s promise to increase health visitor numbers are empty and based more on spin than substance.

 
“Our members continually tell us of cuts to services and the devastation that they are having on families and communities. Labour’s pledge to commit to actually delivering increased numbers of health visitors and giving them the support they need to give every child the best start in life will be music to their ears.”

 
Unite lead professional officer for health visitors Obi Amadi added, “Health visitors play an important role in early intervention and in ensuring children are school ready.

 
“Reduce their numbers then you end up putting more pressure on other public services and on the already hard pressed school nursing workforce.

 
“Any action to reverse damaging cuts to the health visitor service will be welcomed by health professionals with open arms.”