Babies miss basic checks as health visitors quit

Babies are missing out on basic checks as a result of plunging numbers of health visitors, new figures suggest.

The number of health visitors has fallen by 900 in a year, with almost 10 per cent fewer staff in post. The total workforce is now the lowest it has been since 2013, with 8,588 staff employed across the health service, the statistics from NHS Digital show.

The Labour Party said the reduction was resulting in huge variation in the standard of care given to children.

New mothers are supposed to receive a check from health visitors within two weeks of the birth. But just 25 per cent in North Somerset were seen within this time, analysis shows.