Nursing Times reported yesterday that the government is considering fast tracking health visitor training in a bid to meet its pledge to employ an extra 4,200 health visitors by 2015.

This is a result of falling Health Visitor numbers, in 1988 there were 10,680 full time equivalents but by September 2009 this had fallen to 8,519.

Being described as "dumbing down" Health Visiting services

We are receiving concerns from Professionals and parents alike.

In 2008 David Cameron stated "They're called health visitors. Highly-trained NHS professionals who come to your home and build up a trusting, personal relationship with the family." He uses the words highly trained; many feel that this level of training needs to continue.

In 2009 Mr Cameron wrote to the team of Health Visitors and commended the free service they offer to parents and the work Health Visitors do, he also invited them to parliament where they met with Ministers to discuss this

Liz Costagliola Director at Health Visitor Direct states Health visitors need to have such an in depth knowledge and high levels of skills which they acquire through high quality training and experience. Condensing the training could be detrimental to health of well being of mothers and children. Health visitors have areas of expertise that impact considerably on the family ie detection and management of post natal depression. As they have regular contact with families they are often the first person to suspect child abuse. Health visitors build up trusting relationships with mothers leading to them being able to disclose sensitive information ie domestic abuse. Health visitors with their wide variety of expertise have a positive effect on family health. This could be affected if the training is not maintained at a high level.

Chamaine Lovett Co Director also feels that utilising other methods of Health Visiting and targeting hard to reach families needs to be engaged by the government. She states " We have and continue to offer to the government a way of targeting and reaching parents, ensuring Health Visitors can concentrate on their caseloads and parents receive 24 hour advice from a Health Visitor"

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