Unveiling the Action on Health Visiting Programme today, Health Secretary Andy Burnham said the move, combined with the publication of caseload numbers, will enable pressure to be applied on local commissioners to boost numbers.
Speaking at the Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association (CPHVA) conference in Southport, Burnham said he expects to see an increase in health visitor numbers and national variations in caseloads reduced.
However, he stopped short of placing a figure on how many additional health visitors are required, saying it is down to local service providers to decide.
"The days of centralised mandates are over in the NHS," Burnham said.
"We are not going to set another central target for the NHS to reach. It is right PCTs decide where to place funding.
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