500 new health visitors
19 Jun 2014 03:52 PM
Health Secretary announces £40m over next
four years.
A total of 500 new
health visitor posts will be created over the next four years, Health Secretary
Alex Neil has announced.
On a visit to the
Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre in Edinburgh with Minister for Children and
Young People Aileen Campbell, Mr Neil said the new post s would “help
fulfil the Scottish Government’s vision of making Scotland the best place
to grow up”.
There will be
investment in the education of health visitors and the creation of new posts
over the next four years, ensuring the delivery of 500 new health visitor posts
by 2017-18.
Mr Neil
said:
“The
Scottish Government is committed to increasing the number of staff in the NHS
as a whole, delivering quality patient care for the people of Scotland through
a strong investment in the NHS workforce.
“Health
Visitors play a vital role in our communities, and they are at the core of
delivering universal services. We want to invest in Health Visitors as the
first part of the work to fulfil our vision to revolutionise children’s
services and make Scotland the best place to grow up, which is why we will be
delivering 500 more health visitors over the next four years.
“As
front-line NHS workers, working with people to reduce health problems from an
early age, these new health visitors will play a key role in the Scottish
Government’s efforts to reduce health inequalities.”
Minister for
Children and Young People Aileen Campbell added:
“Health
visitors who support infants and their parents and carers in the earliest years
of life play a key role in delivering a universal service to children and
families and the Scottish Government is committed to supporting them.
“I’m
delighted that we can announce this extra investment in the workforce to build
on the excellent work they are already doing and to ensure our children get the
best start in life.”
Theresa Fyffe,
Director of the Royal College of Nursing Scotland, said:
“Health
visitors make a critical difference to the health and wellbeing of the future
lives of children and families. That’s we’ve been campaigning for
the past year for the Scottish Government to invest in having the right number
of fully resourced health visitors in place.
“We’re
pleased the Scottish Government has been listening and yesterday’s
announcement is a significant step in the right direction – we will
continue to engage with the Scottish Government to make sure Scotland’s
families do have ready access to and support from health
visitors.”
Gavin Fergie,
Professional Officer for Unite CPHVA in Scotland added:
“Unite CPHVA
have been integral in the discussions leading to this announcement and support
this move.
“We look
forward to being part of this exciting and interesting period of time for
Health Visiting and working with the Government on other areas of public health
nursing development in Scotland.”
Notes To
Editors
Background
In 2014-15 the
Scottish Government will invest £1.5m in changing Health Visitor
education and £2m to start creating 50 new Health Visitor posts. Funding
for new posts will rise to £6.8m in 2015-16, £12.8m in 2016-17 and
£20m in 2017-18.
The funding will
provide a range of educational support including preparation and investment in
existing health visiting workforce as well as educating new health
visitors.
Health visitors
are qualified registered nurses or midwives with specialist qualifications in
public health nursing. They support and advise families from the birth of their
child until the age of five. If a family needs extra support, health visitors
signpost them to appropriate agencies.
Health visitors
also play a pivotal role in early intervention, promoting social inclusion,
reducing health inequalities and support the ability of families to parent
within local communities through the provision of universal services. Universal
services include a programme of visits to families with new babies until the
child goes to school.
Later this year,
the Scottish Government will, with key stakeholders, bring forward plans to
review the numbers of other professionals and supporting workers in the field,
their practice and the systems they need to ensure they can provide the best
possible service for every child.