HAMPSHIRE health visitors are continuing to press the Government over proposed cuts to the local service.

Hampshire County Council proposes to cut the health visiting budget by some 12 per cent, threatening around 40 posts across the county. It is part of reductions to several public health services, including drug treatment.

A petition, started in Hampshire, called for reinvestment in health visiting to protect the health and safety of babies and young children.

Lesley Tarling, a Hampshire health visitor who set up the petition, told the Institute of Health Visiting: “I’d like to thank the Government for their response to our petition. However, it is disappointing that the core question in our petition remains unanswered. Funding cuts have inevitable consequences, health provision to the young will be irreparably affected. Health issues will be missed, and Adverse Childhood Experiences accentuated.”

The Government said local authorities are best placed to make decisions for their communities. In a statement it said: “Local delivery models vary, as services are tailored to meet local need. We do not advocate a specific health visitor staffing number or case load. This is because it should be led by health needs of a population.”

The council said reduced grants from the Government means that the current level of service is unsustainable.

The Institute of Health Visiting says the profession entered the pandemic already depleted following a 31 per cent reduction in health visitors in England since 2015, with more local authorities planning further cuts due to budget deficits.

Some 80 per cent of health visitors now manage caseloads above the recommended number of 250 children each, with almost one-third having more than double this amount, and 12 per cent over 700 children.