More than 84,000 babies missed health checks within two weeks of birth

Data shows that more than 84,000 babies missed health visits in the first two weeks of their lives last year.

Figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Inequalities show a fall in the number of newborns attended on time from 88 per cent in 2020-21 to 83 per cent in 2021-22.

Data for England shows 470,577 babies were seen on time, while 84,056 (15 per cent) were treated late. Others may not have been seen at all.

Studies by the Institute of Health Visiting suggest that England may be missing 5,000 health visitors.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) highlighted the government data and shared it with the PA news agency. She said early personal health visits were essential to flag child protection concerns and support parents.

It is calling on the Department for Health and Social Care to provide an improved healthy children program and increase funding for health visitors under a forthcoming NHS workforce plan.

Jack O’Neill, senior policy and public affairs officer at the NSPCC, said: “It is important that families receive this important first health visit as soon as possible after the birth of a child to ensure that parents and the new baby live together safely . territory. and healthy environment.

“All families across the country should expect consistent care and not be subject to a postcode lottery.

“With few moments of contact with other services, health visitors provide the only opportunity to interact with babies and new parents in their home environment at this critical time.

“But this important safety net is under great and increasing pressure.

“The NSPCC is therefore calling on the Government to implement an updated and improved Healthy Child programme, together with a robust NHS workforce plan, to provide health visitors with the resources and tools they need to support families of the start of a child’s life to support. “to support.” appropriate support.’

Survey data from more than 1,300 health visitors, released by the Institute of Health Visiting in January, showed that more than half of health visitors reported improvements in child protection.

Health visitors also reported “serious concerns that national data obscures child protection”, as children at significant risk and exposure go undetected when services are suspended and a growing number of vulnerable children do not meet the threshold to be on the books of a social worker don’t come

Jack O’Neill, senior policy and public affairs officer at the NSPCC, said: “It is important that families receive this important first health visit as soon as possible after the birth of a child” (stock photo)

Some 37% of health visitors in the survey felt they could provide a good or excellent child protection service, while 14% rated their services as inadequate and so strained that there could be a tragedy in their area at some point.

Government data for England shows that 50,920 child protection plans were in place at the end of March, up 1.8% from 2021 but down 1.1% from the first year of the pandemic in 2020.

A total of approximately 404,310 children were classified as in need, a 4.1% increase from 2021 and a 3.9% increase from 2020. This is the highest number since 2018 and affects children at risk of needing help and protection need or health.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We are committed to giving babies and children the best start in life and have local public health grants – which fund the commissioning of services, including health visits – on more than 3.4 billion pounds collected local authorities.

“We are also investing around £300m to fund a new three-year Family Hubs and Start for Life scheme – to improve health and education in 75 local governments with high levels of deprivation.”