Research published by the Labour Party shows that 130 out of 152 (85 per cent) councils plan to reduce their public health budgets this year by a combined total of £96.3m compared with 2017/18 levels. This includes cuts by 93 councils totalling £16.1m to statutory public health services for children aged up to five years old, such as health visiting.
The Institute of Health Visiting said the cuts are having a "devastating" impact on the quality of services health visitors can provide, and warned that some are leaving the profession because they do not want to be held accountable for being unable to safeguard children.
Union Unite said health visiting is "under sustained attack" as a result of funding cuts, with local provision blighted by lack of resources, rising demand and heavy caseloads, which is threatening to put the safety of children are risk.
The Institute of Health Visiting (IHV) said it is concerned about the impact of cuts on health visitor morale and the safety of children.
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