12
Rejected
Commit to increasing mandatory health visitor contacts from five to six for children in England.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government commit to increasing the number of mandatory health visitor contacts for children in England from five to six. To help it deliver this it should look at the approach that the devolved administrations have taken, where families can expect between 6 and 11 contacts with a health visitor, and set out the lessons that it can learn from their approach in its response to our report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 61) Workforce
Government Response Summary
The government rejects increasing the number of mandatory health visitor contacts, defending the existing five statutory reviews as occurring at crucial developmental points. It states that three additional contacts are recommended where possible, and that further improvements will be considered as part of the 10 Year Health Plan.
Government Response
Rejected
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
Mandatory health and development reviews play an essential role in identifying issues and supporting families. We agree that getting this service right is essential. We work regularly with the devolved governments to share learning. Each country has different population sizes, structures and issues. In Wales, families get a new birth contact and further contacts before 6 weeks if needed, then at 6 months, 15 months, 27 months and 3-and-a-half years. Antenatal visits are only offered under certain circumstances such as first baby. There are also offers of clinic appointments between 8 and 16 weeks to review the baby’s growth and encourage immunisations. The Welsh Flying Start programme is offered in certain areas with high deprivation and includes enhanced health visiting. Geographical limitations result in mixed service provision for families with similar need. Wales is currently reviewing the evidence of value for their Healthy Child programme. In Scotland, the child health programme is provided by NHS Scotland. This provides 8 home visits to all families in the first year of life (new baby, 2 at 3 to 5 weeks, 6 to 8 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months, 8 months) and 3 child health reviews between 13 months and 4 to 5 years. All visits should be offered in the home by health visitors with the aim of building strong relationships. Scotland also offers babies or carers who need it a sustained additional support (more than 3 month), which may include enhanced health visiting. In England, the service is based on proportional universalism, so everyone gets support based on need. The 5 statutory health and development reviews for children aged 0 to 5 occur at crucial developmental and clinical timepoints (antenatal, new baby, 6 to 8 weeks, 9 to 15 months and 2-and-a-half years) and we recommend 3 additional contacts for children where possible (3 month, 6 month and 3 years). Those with the greatest need should receive a specialist, and more intense, level of service regardless of geographical location. We will consider how we can continue to improve the service as we deliver the 10 Year Health Plan’s shifts to community and prevention.
Source
Committee
Health and Social Care Committee
Report
5th Report - First 1000 days: a renewed focus
22 Jan 2026
HC 802
Addressee Bodies
Department of Health and Social Care
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.5 yr
Report published
22 Jan 2026