‘Devil in detail’ as 500 new health visitors pledged for Scotland
19 Jun 2014 10:30 AM
The ‘devil will be in the
detail’, following yesterday’s (Wednesday 18 June) announcement
that 500 more health visitors will be created in Scotland in the next four
years.
Unite, Scotland’s biggest
union, which embraces the Community Practitioners’ and Health
Visitors’ Association (CPHVA), welcomed the announcement by the Scottish
government that there will be 500 more health visitors by
2017-18.
Unite professional officer for
Scotland Gavin Fergie said: “There is much work to be done in making
this a reality and the devil will be in the detail as to how this will be
implemented.
“Unite feels that at
least 500 full-time health visitors are required to address the needs of
children, young people and their families in Scotland.
“We view this
four-year plan, which runs until 2018, not as an end in itself, but
a first constructive step in a continuing programme to develop the profession
into the 2020s.
“Unite/CPHVA has been
integral in the work leading to today’s announcement by cabinet secretary
for health and wellbeing Alex Neil.
“We are supporting
this exciting and interesting time for the health visiting profession in
Scotland.”
In March this year,
Scotland’s health visiting workforce stood at a total headcount of 1,624
(whole time equivalent of 1,339). Unite said that, based on those figures, the
extra 500 posts in the pipeline were the minimum required to meet the public
health needs of the Scottish population.
Gavin Fergie also raised
concerns about other branches of community nursing and the need for more
investment in these areas.
He said: “Questions
also remain about the future for school nursing and nurses, and we hope a
similar announcement will be made for this group in the near future.
Unite/CPHVA is involved in formulating policy for school
nurses.
“District nursing and
nurses also require investment. Analysis on how to develop and support this
service is long overdue.
“The challenges facing
health visitors are varied and complex whether their clients live in cities and
towns or in rural areas.”
ENDS
For further information please
contact Unite senior communications officer Shaun Noble on 07768 693940 and/or
the Unite press office on 020 3371 2065.