Friday, February 23, 2007

Health visitor numbers 'falling'

The number of health visitors in England has fallen to its lowest level in 12 years, a trade union says.

Amicus said there had been a 40% cut in training places for those workers and warned many cases of domestic abuse and post-natal depression may be missed.

The government has said health visitors have a key role to play in its policy of bringing healthcare closer to home.

ENOUGH SAID, CUTS IN HOSPITALS WITH NO COMMUNITY PROVISION YET IN PLACE,
LOOKS LIKE AN EMPTY PROMISE TO ME - HINCHINGBROOKE IS TO REDUCE THEIR
ACTIVITY BY 38,500 PROCEEDURES AS OF 07/08 YEAR BUT THE PCT CLAIM THEY ARE
GOING TO PROPOSE TO INVEST ONLY £2.5M IN COMMUNITY CARE, CLEARLY NOT
ENOUGH INVESTMENT AND IT IS NOT EVEN COMMITED TO DO THIS AS IT IS ONLY A
PROPOSAL...........
IN REALITY THERE WILL BE HOSPITAL CUTS, 60 TREATMENTS NOT PAID FOR, 400
JOB CUTS, 38,500 PROCEEDURES NOT DONE................YET THE HOSPITAL AND THE PCT
CLAIM THE HOSPITAL WILL KEEP 99.9% OF SERVICES, THAT MAYBE BUT AT WHAT
LEVEL AND EXCUSE MY MATHS BUT 99.9% OF SERVICES AND  A 25% ACTIVITY CUT DON'T RECONCILE.................