Nursery World - Minister pledges to create 4,200 health visitor jobs

The public health minister has confirmed the country is to get 4,200 extra health visitors.

Speaking at the annual conference of Unite/Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association (CPHVA) in Harrogate, Anne Milton MP said the Government pledged to create 4,200 new health visitor jobs by the end of this Parliament - increasing the workforce by 50 per cent in five years.

The minister said, 'The health visiting profession has been eroded dramatically over the past decade. That's why we are funding 4,200 new posts and improving training. Investing in health visitors is investing in the future health and well-being of our children, families and communities.'

Unite's assistant general secretary for public services, Gail Cartmail, said, 'We welcome this announcement, which is the culmination of years of campaigning by Unite to see the reversal in the decline in the health visitor workforce. However, the devil will be in the detail as to how this will happen quickly and efficiently.'

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