Scots Health Secretary announces 500 new health visitors jobs

A total of 500 new health visitor posts will be created over the next four years, Scottish Health Secretary, Alex Neil has announced today.

On a visit to the Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre in Edinburgh with Minister for Children and Young People Aileen Campbell, Mr Neil said the new posts 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 today’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.”

Devil in the detail

Gavin Fergie, Professional Officer for Unite Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association (CPHVA) in Scotland 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.”