§ 36. Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent investigation his Department has made into disparities across health authorities in the provision of health visitors per 100 children under the age of five years. [517]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department has not made any recent comparative investigations across health authorities into the provision of health visitors based on the number of children under five years of age. Local health improvement programmes include an assessment of the health needs of local populations, and the funding of primary care group investment plans is aligned with priorities identified by the local health improvement plan. It is the responsibility of local health providers to plan their own staffing requirements to meet local need accordingly. Primary care groups and trusts have huge potential to improve people's health and prevent illness, which includes providing appropriate health visiting services.