Health visitor caseloads of 500 common

Caseloads of more than 500 children are common place for 40% of health visitors, a Unite/CPHVA survey shows.

The survey of 829 English health visitors found that 20% have case loads of more than 1,000 children each, and 70% reported being unable to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children.

A separate survey of 6,000 mothers, conducted by the Netmums, found 60% said access to health visitor during the first year of their child's life was inadequate.

Unite's national officer for health, Karen Reay said: 'Families will suffer as a result which is completely the reverse of what the government's family-friendly policies are intend to promote.

'We are calling for ministers to instruct NHS trusts to implement a massive investment programme in health visiting.'