THE Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned that widespread shortages of health visitors will lead to continuing generations of health inequalities in Scotland.
A new document by the RCN has highlighted the importance for improving public health, particularly for young children and families.
However, the nursing body warned many employees are suffering from low morale as the profession is overstretched. It has urged health boards to recruit and train more staff.
The RCN said health visitors played a “massive role” in managing the long-term effects of serious public health problems such as smoking, alcohol and obesity within families.
Figures show there were almost 1500 health visitors in Scotland six years ago. Now there are marginally more than 1200.
Health visitors play a key role in Triple P – the Positive Parenting Programme – launched in Glasgow two years ago and now being rolled out across Scotland.
RCN Scotland Director, Theresa Fyffe, said: “The health visitor plays a key role in a child’s development and detecting both emotional, mental and physical health problems. We are concerned that many health visitors report low morale and being overstretched.
“Health visitors need enough time to do their job or health inequalities will continue.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said the number of public health nurses – which includes health visitors – in Scotland had increased by 68% since 2007. However, this figure also includes school nurses.
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