Family nurse pilot has second successful year

The £36m programme for first-time mothers was launched in 10 areas across England in 2007. It was hailed a success after its first year, scoring eight of 10 in a client approval survey. This year it scored nine out of 10.

Health minister Ann Keen said: "As a nurse myself, I know how this programme is at the heart of our policy for improving the life chances of the most vulnerable children and their families. There are now 40 test sites up and running and we will have 50 by next January. Early signs show that it is having a real impact on reducing smoking and improving breastfeeding rates for young mothers."

The evaluation also showed that three-quarters of families that had enrolled on the programme have been referred to other services for support. These referrals were largely made for financial assistance, maternal health, housing or infant health.

But the report, by Birkbeck, University of London, also warned that there is still some way to go in terms of improving knowledge of the programme among local commissioners and children's service managers. It stated that sites where the programme has not performed as well are typified by "high staff turnover and ambivalent support from the wider service community".