‘Poverty is so widespread among families it has become the norm’, according to health visitors who have seen an increase in the numbers affected in the last year, impacting children's health and development.
Findings from a survey of 1,186 frontline health visitors working with babies and young children highlight a rise in the number of families using food banks and skipping meals as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.
The Institute of Health Visiting’s (iHV) survey, which claims to be the largest of health visitors working with families in the UK, reveals:
- 93 per cent of health visitors have seen an increase in the number of families affected by poverty in the last 12 months.
- 89 per cent of health visitors reported a rise in the use of food banks among families.
- 78 per cent an increase in perinatal mental illness,
- 69 per cent an increase in domestic abuse.
- 63 per cent an increase in homelessness and asylum seekers.
- 50 per cent an increase in families skipping meals.
