Together with Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHS), we’re running the consultation on proposals to transform health visiting services.
In Derbyshire, the service is commissioned by us as part of the 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service and is delivered by DCHS.
The consultation – which runs until 29 September 2024 – is the second phase of a review looking at how services could be delivered more effectively to ensure they remain sustainable and finite resources are targeted at families who need the most support.
The public is encouraged to give their views about 6 proposals to change the way health visiting services are delivered. They can do this by filling in an online questionnaire.
Paper copies of the questionnaire are also available on request by emailing asch.publichealth.commissioning@derbyshire.gov.uk
A series of drop-in events is being held for anyone to go along and provide feedback on the proposals. These will be held on:
- Monday 16 September 2024 at Buxton Library, 9:30 am to 11:30am
- Wednesday 18 September 2024 at Ilkeston Library, 10am to midday
- Thursday 19 September 2024 at Swadlincote Library, 9:30am to 11:30am
- Monday 23 September 2024 at Chesterfield Library, 9:30am to midday
- Tuesday 24 September 2024 at Bolsover Library, 10am to midday
- Thursday 26 September 2024 at Matlock Library, 10am to midday
- Friday 27 September 2024 at Eckington Library, 10am to midday
Two online events will be held via Microsoft Teams for anyone to attend on:
- Tuesday 17 September 2024 from 1pm to 2pm
- Thursday 26 September 2024 from 4pm to 5pm
To book a place email asch.publichealth.commissioning@derbyshire.gov.uk to receive an email link to attend.
The 6 proposals which have been jointly developed by us and DCHS are:
- community nursery nurses supporting health visitors to deliver universal face-to-face reviews for children when they reach two-and-a-half years old. Under this proposal, health visitors who currently carry out these checks would continue to support vulnerable families identified as needing the most support
- community nursery nurses would continue to offer face-to-face reviews to children from three-and-a-half years to school age where they are identified as having developmental or health concerns. All other families would receive information about virtual support available
- stop delivering discretionary face-to-face reviews to children at three-and-a-half years old. The health visiting service would continue to support families of children where there are developmental or health concerns
- all expectant parents will continue to be offered an antenatal review with a health visitor but this could be a face-to-face appointment at home or a virtual appointment where appropriate to meet the needs of the family
- first-time parents and families identified as needing extra support would continue to be offered an antenatal review at home with a health visitor. All other families who have had a previous child would not routinely be offered an antenatal review but could request a virtual appointment with a health visitor
- community nursery nurses supporting health visitors to deliver universal face-to-face reviews for children aged 12 months old. Under this proposal, health visitors who currently carry out these checks would continue to support vulnerable families identified as needing the most support
As part of the consultation, people will also be asked their views on transferring the Derbyshire Integrated Specialist Intensive Home Visiting Service into a Section 75 Partnership Agreement – a legal agreement between us and DCHS to improve services, either by joining up existing services or developing new, co-ordinated and co-produced services.
Councillor Carol Hart, our Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, said:
“I’d encourage as many people as possible to tell us what they think about these proposals.
“We recognise that all families are different and some need more support than others which is why these proposals would continue to support everyone, while providing targeted support to those with the greatest needs.
“Like all other councils across the country, we’re facing increasing financial pressures that are outside our control. With demand for support rising and continuing uncertainty around increasing costs, we have to consider how we continue to support those who need us most while continuing to deliver the services we are required to by law.
“I’d also like to reassure people that no decisions would be made about any of the services until we’d heard the public’s views and taken these fully into consideration.”
Heather Longbottom, Divisional Director: Specialised Community Services, Deputy Chief Operating Officer Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust added:
“We are fully supportive of this consultation and the importance of asking the public how they want finite resources to be utilised for the benefit of families in our area.
“Our specialist community public health nurses (health visitors) have a vital role to play in providing healthcare guidance to children and young families to give them the best start in life. We recognise that not all families or children need the same level of input and this consultation is designed to help target the specialist help available to those in our communities who most need it.
“We are grateful to our dedicated colleagues who are providing expert support to families across the county on a daily basis.”
The current service costs £12.816 million a year to deliver with the funding coming from government. Uncertainty around rising costs mean if the proposals were agreed following consultation these could be phased in over the number of years.