David Cameron has explained in a major announcement that a Conservative Government would recruit 4,200 new health visitors nationally to provide universal support to families with children under five and keep Sure Start as a more effective way of reaching out to the most vulnerable families.
Nationally the number of health visitors has been in decline for most of the 2000s (noughties). Parliamentary questioning by Oliver Heald has revealed that the number of health visitors working in NHS Trusts and PCTs across Hertfordshire is down from 284 in 2005 to 226 this year. This is the lowest number of health visitors working in the county since 2001.
There are 17 less health visitors available to people in North East Hertfordshire than there were in 2006. Oliver has welcomed David Cameron's decision to increase health visitor numbers if elected to Government and his commitment to Sure Start, which helps families with advice and support.
Sure Start would be improved by early intervention, increasing its focus on the neediest families, and better involving organisations with a track record in parenting interventions. Drawing on the key principles behind the wider Conservative public service reform programme – practicality, independence and accountability.
Commenting Oliver said: "" I am glad that David has decided to back health visitors and Sure Start. I remember how unsure you can feel as a new parent and I am sure the advice and support of health visitors is vital, particularly now that parents are so often starting out on parenthood miles from their own parents. Good parenting is an important building block for society and every bit of help is welcome. People can take more responsibility for themselves by focusing on improving early lives – in the family, at school and through the influences of wider society – and taking action to ingrain responsibility through each.""
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