Prime Highlight
- MPs have warned that the UK has some of the poorest infant health outcomes in Europe and called for urgent government action.
- A new report urges stronger early years support through expanded Family Hubs, more health visitors, and improved vaccination coverage.
Key Facts
- England had just 6,300 health visitors by December 2024, a 43% fall since 2015, with some handling caseloads of up to 1,000 families.
- In 2024, the UK recorded its highest number of measles cases since 2012 and 11 infant deaths from whooping cough.
Background
The UK government is being urged to take urgent action to improve the health of young children, after MPs warned that the country has some of the poorest outcomes for infants in Europe.
A new report by the cross-party Health and Social Care Committee says better access to health visitors, wider use of Family Hubs and stronger vaccination efforts could significantly improve the lives of babies and toddlers in England. The report focuses on the first 1,000 days of life, from pregnancy to age two, a period widely seen as critical for brain development and long-term health.
One of the committee’s main recommendations is to expand Family Hubs into more communities with high needs. These centres offer parents advice and support in one place and should also provide stronger perinatal mental health services, the report said.
MPs raised serious concerns about the collapse in the health visitor workforce over the past decade. By December 2024, England had only 6,300 health visitors, a 43% drop from 2015. In some areas, individual health visitors manage caseloads of up to 1,000 families. The committee called on the government to recruit at least 1,000 more health visitors and ensure every family receives at least six visits in the early years.
The report also criticised falling vaccination rates. In 2024, the UK saw the highest number of measles cases since 2012, and 11 infants died from whooping cough. MPs said the government should set a 95% vaccination target again and train health visitors to give vaccines during home visits and at Family Hubs.
Committee chair Paulette Hamilton MP said it was “a source of shame” that preventable illnesses continue to harm children. She called on ministers to rebuild early years services and make health visiting a core part of support for families across England.
The committee also urged better access to perinatal mental health care, particularly for women from ethnic minority backgrounds, to protect both parents and children in the crucial early years.
