More than 1,000 extra health visitors have been recruited over the past two years, according to workforce figures, suggesting the government is making headway in its pledge to have an extra 4,200 health visitors in post by 2015.
When the coalition government came to power in May 2010 there were 8,092 health visitors in post in England; by May 2012 the number had only climbed by 300 to 8,384. However, data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre shows that, in February, there were 9,113 additional full-time equivalent health visitors in post.
Health minister Dr Dan Poulter said the DH was well on its way to achieving the 2015 target: ‘There are over 2,000 health visitors currently in training, with more places planned for next year.'