Nursery World - Backlog and virtual visits are impacting health checks

Delays to development checks and the introduction of non-face-to-face appointments due to the pandemic are hindering the effectiveness of the programme. Katy Morton reports

As well as health checks, dentistry is also an area of concern PHOTO Adobe Stock

The coronavirus pandemic has created a backlog of children’s developmental checks, and with the move away from face-to-face health visiting and GP appointments, there are concerns children will slip through the net.

Under the Healthy Child programme, all children in England should receive five mandated health visits and checks in their first two-and-a-half years. The aim of these is to identify health risks, the need for extra support and children’s broader development.

However, during lockdowns, some children missed development checks and were not seen by a health visitor due to a lack of PPE and the workforce being redeployed. This is on top of a historical shortage of health visitors and high staff turnover.

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