Family Nurse Partnership provides a welcome helping hand

13/03/2010 by Steve Barclay.

I had an interesting meeting in Wisbech with the Family Nurse Partnership, which is a pilot programme to help those who are 19 years or younger and having their first child. I was greatly impressed with the experience and positive outlook of the team, and it will be good to go back later in the pilot and hear more.

The pilot has been running since January and will be reviewed towards the end of this year by the Primary Care Trust. Each family nurse will see up to 25 families, initially weekly and then every other week up to their second birthday after the baby is born. During what is a challenging and anxious time for all new parents, the experience of this team will be a great support.

This sort of pilot fits with the Conservative health priority to have more health visitors, as part of our commitment to guarantee to increase NHS funding. Many health visitors will retire soon, and they are already in short supply which puts more pressure on the remaining staff.

The meeting was also a chance to address a Labour lie. Some Labour MPs have falsely stated that the Conservatives would stop Sure Start.  This is not true, and it was good to put the record straight.

Chatting with those working at the sharp end of the NHS also often highlights stories of money being wasted.  Today was no different.  One area is multiple prescriptions which are often not reviewed for long periods.  Something for me to follow up.

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