Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Paragraph: 31
We remain concerned at the number of new parents reporting limited or no access to...
Recommendation
We remain concerned at the number of new parents reporting limited or no access to health visiting services over the period of the pandemic. Virtual checks were a necessary innovation during covid-19, but new parents and their children must now urgently receive in-person visits—ideally from a health visitor, but, if this is not possible and in view of the time-sensitive nature of this need, then from another qualified professional. We agree with the Government that local authorities are best Impact of Covid-19 on new parents: one year on 27 placed to make decisions on local public health funding priorities, but the unique circumstances of covid-19 demand additional central government funding for local services to meet additional need.
Government Response Summary
The government reiterates that every family should be offered five face-to-face health and wellbeing reviews by health visitors. It states that the Public Health Grant for local authorities will be maintained in real terms, enabling investment in services, but does not commit to additional central government funding for extra need.
Paragraph Reference:
31
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4 Government Response: Impact of Covid-19 on new parents: one year on In England, every family should be offered five health and wellbeing reviews (from prenatal to 2.5 years) that are universal in reach and personalised in response. These should be face to face, delivered by a health visitor, or under their supervision. Where necessary, health visitors offer additional support to families and refer them onto other services. Health visitors should use their clinical judgement to identify whether virtual, telephone, or other blended approaches can be used to support the needs of the family. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is working with academic institutions to build the evidence base on appropriate use of digital and other virtual interventions to support service decision-making. COVID-19 restrictions have impacted provision of 0 to 19 services, including the need for virtual contacts or pausing of some services. Developmental delays, issues relating to perinatal mental health, safeguarding concerns or detection of any early warning signs of vulnerability may require stronger risk management processes and case load assessment to prioritise those families with higher needs. Since October 2020, Directors of Nursing have been advised that professionals supporting babies, children and families—such as health visitors, school nurses, designated safeguarding officers and nurses supporting children with special educational needs— should not be redeployed to other areas and should be supported to provide services through pregnancy and early years to the most vulnerable families. This continues in the Community Health Services Prioritisation Framework published by NHS England on 11 January 2022. As outlined in the Health Visiting and School Nursing Service Delivery Model, commissioners and providers may wish to consider development of a recovery plan to address the impact of COVID-19 in partnership with other agencies to support multi- agency support, monitoring and evaluation. Recovery planning should consider vulnerability in prioritisation, including: • children and young people who may be at high risk for clinical reasons; • those with formal or legal support in place; • those at higher risk due to wider determinants of health and other factors that can lead to poor outcomes. The Spending Review also confirmed that Public Health Grant for local authority commissioned services will be maintained in real terms over the next three years. This will enable local authorities to invest in prevention and frontline services like child health visits.