What is a Health Visitor?
A Health Visitor is a qualified Registered Nurse who has undertaken further
(post registration) training. The role of the Health Visitor is about the
promotion of health and prevention of illness in individuals, families and
in the wider community.
Research indicates that development and experiences in the first 30 months of life have a major impact on physical, emotional and mental health for the rest of a person’s life.
This can be a highly rewarding time for parents, but these early years can also be very frustrating and demanding, emotionally, physically and financially. There are many sources of information for new and less experienced parents but this information is often presented in a rigid and inflexible way. What’s more it can never completely cover the unique needs and circumstances of their particular family.
An important part of the Health Visitor’s role is to support and advise parents who have children aged 0-5 years old. The change from being a couple to becoming a family can be very daunting. The experience and expertise of the Health Visitor can help achieve the transition in a smooth and fulfilling way to the mutual benefit of the parents and the baby.
Why is a private health visiting service required?
We at MY HEALTH VISITOR have recognised the key role Health Visitors can play in the health and well being of young children as well as their parents. However with all the well-publicised pressures on the NHS, the role of the Health Visitor has become squeezed and inevitably the level as well as quality of the service has suffered.
Recognising this trend MY HEALTH VISITOR has been established to promote the additional choice of an independent, private health visiting service.
In March 2007 the Family & Parenting Institute, the leading centre
of expertise on families and parenting in the UK, commissioned a poll by
the research agency YouGov on Health Visitors. The poll concluded that more
than three in four parents in England want parenting support and advice
on their child’s health and development from a trained Health Visitor
with up-to-date knowledge.
Review the full YouGov report - Health
Visitors – an endangered species (PDF format).
Suggested reading:
Facing the Future: A review of the role of health visitors
Commissioned by the Department of Health this review, published on 15th June 2007, makes a number of recommendations for the future role of health visitors. Many people have raised concerns that the review will lead to a loss of the universal service for all families in favour of a more targeted approach for vulnerable families.
Download the full report