Children in Scotland launches campaign on protection of health visitors

Date: 15th June 2013
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Children in Scotland has launched a campaign calling for health visiting for all families to be protected in Scottish law.

Under the banner of Health Visitors Scotland, Children in Scotland, along with a number of other family and health organisations, are calling on the Scottish Government to reaffirm the commitment to health visiting as a vital service in the crucial early years of life by protecting it in law through the forthcoming Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill.

Scottish Conservatives, including Party Leader Ruth Davidson, Deputy Leader and Health Spokesperson Jackson Carlaw and Education Spokesperson Liz Smith, showed their support for our campaign to safeguard Scotland's health visiting services by taking part in a photo opportunity outside the Scottish Parliament.

• Find out more here.

Health visitors are viewed as a unique and essential contribution to the health and wellbeing of families and local communities across Scotland. The Children and Young People Bill, which is currently going through the Scottish Parliament, could enshrine Scotland's commitment to health visiting for all in law - but only if the Scottish Government uses it as an opportunity to do so. A petition has been created to gather support for a health visiting service for all families in Scotland, and for health visitors to be the Named Person for children under five years old.

• Sign the petition here.