Why is Health Visiting a Hot Topic?

In recent years the numbers of health visitors in the workforce have declined, as has the number of health visitor student placements offered by PCTs. Increasing the numbers in the health visitor workforce is part of the NHS Operating Framework and the SHA (Strategic Health Authority) Assurance Framework as well as a key priority for the government as set out in the coalition agreement and comprehensive spending review.  This document seeks to outline what the North West objectives and implementation plan is following the recent call to action.