The role of health visitors in delivery of Child Health Promotion Programme defined further

Maria Miller MP asked the Secretary of State for Health what role health visitors will play in delivering the Child Health Promotion Programme (CHPP); and what estimate he has made of the number of health visitors required to deliver the target outcomes of the programme.

Ann Keen responded that health visitors are central to delivering the CHPP. She noted that, with their expertise in children, families and public health, together with their background as nurses they are ideally placed to lead the delivery of CHPP in the community.

“The recent review into the future role of the health visitor, ‘Facing the Future’, recommended two roles for health visitors. One of the roles is to lead and deliver the CHPP for a defined population working across general practice and children’s centres. The recently updated CHPP promotes the important role of the health visitor to commissioners and services providers. It is the responsibility of local organisations to commission and develop services to respond to local needs, including the recruitment of health visitors. The operating framework for 2008-09 highlights the importance of children’s services and the need for local organisations to commission and provide the necessary services and work force.”

Health Checks for Young Children start within the first 24 hours

Mary Scanlon MSP this week asked the Scottish Executive what health checks are given to children from birth to five years of age.

Shona Robinson responded that the routine health checks which children from birth to five years of age receive is set out in the Health for All Children (Hall 4) Guidance.

The guidance recommends that all children should have contact with health professionals within the first 24 hours for a full physical health check; within the first 10 days of life for a blood spot test for particular illnesses and a general check to ensure there is no cause for concern; within the first 28 days of life for a hearing test; at six to eight weeks for a full physical health and development check, including weight; at two, three and four months for immunisation and to check weight; at 12 months for immunisation; at 13 months for immunisation and to check weight; between the ages of three to five years for immunisation and to check weight; between four and five years for an eye sight test, usually at pre-school, and between the ages of four to six, usually in school year primary 1, for a full physical health check including height, weight and dental check.

Eradicating Child Poverty in Northern Ireland

Mary Bradley MLA, asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail its delivery plan to eradicate child poverty.

In response the Rt Hon Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness said that it was totally unacceptable that around 100,000 children live in poverty in Northern Ireland and that the Executive is determined to tackle this issue as a priority. They highlighted that their Programme for Government commits specifically to:

	Work towards the elimination of child poverty in Northern Ireland by 2020 and reducing child poverty by 50% by 2010
	Work towards the elimination of severe child poverty by 2012.

They also stated that there are a number of policies which currently aim to lift children out of poverty. These include tax and benefit policies set by the UK Government, and Programmes such as Early Years, New Deal and Sure Start which are the responsibility of Northern Ireland Departments, but that more needs to be done if the targets are to be achieved. Consequently, the Executive will soon adopt its own Strategy to tackle poverty and social exclusion based on objective need. In so doing it will take account of the findings and recommendations coming out of the current enquiry by the OFMDFM Committee. The findings from their own departmental work on tackling disadvantage and barriers experienced by lone parents and people with disabilities, which is nearing completion, will also be taken into account.

Child Poverty Action Group call for David Cameron to make firm commitment on child poverty

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) have commented on David Cameron’s statement this week that ‘we can end poverty – I mean it!’  Cameron was speaking at the Conservative Party event to launch the report ‘Making British Poverty History’.

Kate Green, Chief Executive at CPAG says that while they welcome the attention the Conservatives are giving child poverty, “unlike all the other parties, he still won’t make this a promise. Ending child poverty is a marathon not a sprint, but like a marathon, it is achievable. You don’t ask for support to run a marathon by saying you ‘aspire’ to jog for a bit, you have a clear target to run 26 miles. As the only mainstream British party not to have a firm commitment to eradicate child poverty in a generation, it’s time for Cameron to prove he has faith in his party’s proposals and turn the ‘aspiration’ to end child poverty into a promise.’

Health Select Committee inquiry into health inequalities hears about the importance of Sure Start and the New Deal for Communities

The Health Select Committee heard that children’s centres needed to integrate with communities if they were to reach families in deprived areas. When asked if there was a model of an ideal early years programme that could reduce health inequalities, Edward Melhuish, Executive Director of National Evaluation of Sure Start, said there was evidence from Sure Start that if they worked to integrate themselves with local health services they would be more effective. He said this helped Sure Start reach families easily so that they could get the services they needed. He went on to say that the use of health visitors and midwives should be expanded and their training improved. He also stated that more cross-agency training was needed so that the different agencies involved could improve communications

Mr Melhuish noted that one example of a reduction in health inequalities the evaluation of Sure Start had shown was an increase in the uptake of immunisation in children. He did however concede that the Sure Start data used in the report had been collected after the control data and therefore may not be completely accurate. He emphasized that for a successful Sure Start programme, it should be well-embedded in the community, have strong leadership with a stable and well-trained staff, a good relationship with local health services and also the local authority.

New Deal for Communities was highlighted as successfully integrating health services and primary care and putting them under one roof so they were more accessible for communities – they also worked with Sure Start on community development issues.

Health Select Committee hears that breastfeeding and folic acid can be used to address health inequalities

The Health Select Committee this week heard evidence as part of it inquiry into health inequalities. Opening the meeting the Kevin Barron MP (Chair) asked the witnesses what three evidence-based interventions they would recommend introducing to reduce health inequalities.

Leading the responses Professor Mike Kelly, Public Health Excellence Centre Director, at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said he would recommend that women take 400 grams of folic acid daily when they were trying to conceive and during the first four months of pregnancy. His second recommendation was that breastfeeding should be promoted as the best start for children’s health and that mothers should breastfeed for longer.

The early years programmes was also highlighted as having an important impact on tackling health inequalities but that investment in the early years of a child’s life and also their mothers needed to be re-emphasised.

It was also pointed out that a multi-pronged approach was probably needed to address public health issues. Improved counselling and support for those giving up smoking in deprived areas could help reduce inequalities and education, income and employment were all pointed out as having a positive impact on inequalities. Professor Kelly noted that a small shift in resources in education and income distribution could have a big effect on health inequalities

Breastfeed with Pride say NCT

Date: April 2008
NCT National Press Release

Breastfeed with pride says NCT

As National Breastfeeding Awareness Week approaches (11-17 May) the NCT is marking the Week by encouraging NCT branches nationwide to host events and activities in their local area.
Local branches will be calling on shops, cafes and leisure facilities to do everything they can to promote the fact that local breastfeeding mothers will be made welcome.

The charity wants to encourage more mothers to give breastfeeding a go and engage the support of their family and friends – this will enable mothers to feel confident about breastfeeding for as long as they want to and give their baby the healthiest possible start in life.

Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive of the NCT said;
“We are proud our branches are supporting National Breastfeeding Awareness Week. Research shows that the benefits of breastfeeding start right from day one, so every day of breastfeeding is a reason to feel proud. This is especially important for the nine out of 10 women who stop breastfeeding before they want to. We want the families and friends of women who breastfeed to recognise the support they give can also make a real difference to a mother’s confidence in breastfeeding and make a positive difference to babies’ health.”

Trained NCT breastfeeding counsellors are locally available seven days a week to answer questions and provide support around baby feeding. For further information call the NCT Breastfeeding Line on 0870 444 8708 Mon-Sun between 8am and 10pm.

In addition to the helpline, the NCT runs breastfeeding courses for parents who want to learn about baby feeding and related matters. A trained NCT breastfeeding counsellor helps parents and enables them to be in a better position to be able to breastfeed it they want to. Call NCT Enquiries for more details on 0870 444 8707.

The charity is also lending its support to the National Breastfeeding Conference for health professionals on 12th May. For more information visit www.breastfeeding2008.co.uk;

Ends

Notes to Editors:
· The NCT has books and booklets relating to breastfeeding which can be ordered from NCT Sales 0870 112 1120 or visit www.nctsales.co.uk Breastfeeding – A Good Start-Breastfeeding: how to express and store your milk. Breastfeeding for Beginners.
· The National Breastfeeding Conference takes place 12th May 2008 at Church House Conference Centre, London. The RCM is hosting the joint conference by the Department of Health, RCN, NCT, Communtiy Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association and others. The Conference will showcase recent national initiatives and has professional accreditation for health professionals. For more information visit www.breastfeeding2008.co.uk
· NCT is a proud member of the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition. www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk. The Breastfeeding Manifesto outlines seven key objectives which we are campaigning to have implemented into UK policy and legislation. It will ensure that mothers are supported so that they are able to breastfeed. The Manifesto has a wide range of Coalition members from Royal Colleges to environmental organisations and highlights the wide benefits breastfeeding can have on society. For more information and to sign up as a supporter, please visit www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk