Union demands action to tackle health visitor shortages

The union, which has 100,000 members in the health service, said the evidence of nursing shortages is "stark and alarming" and described the abolition of bursaries last year as "short-sighted and blinkered thinking by the government".

A quarterly update released by NHS Digital showed there were 34,260 unfilled nursing and midwifery posts in England in the three months to September last year, the highest level since records began.

Concerns have previously been raised about a decline in the number of health visitors.

Sarah Carpenter, Unite head of health, said: "We feel that the foot needs to be put firmly on the accelerator in addressing the shortages of nurses, health visitors and community nurses.

"One of the best ways would be to immediately reintroduce bursaries for those wishing to train as the nurses of tomorrow."

The health select committee has been holding an inquiry into whether the government and health bodies have effective plans to recruit, train and retain nurses, the report of which has been published today.

Unite lead professional officer for regulation Jane Beach, who gave evidence to the committee, said: "The report could have gone further in its recommendations on bursaries.

"It acknowledges the impact of removing bursaries, but we don't have the luxury of waiting another year to know how this will play out," she said.

According to a survey last year, more than one in three health visitors said they were overworked, raising concerns that children's safety could be being put at risk.

The Institute of Health Visiting research found since family health service were transferred from the NHS to local authorities in 2015 caseloads had dramatically increased due to staff cutbacks.