'Too Few' Health Visitors To Meet Call For More Postnatal Depression Treatment, UK

Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Mental Health
Article Date: 19 Jan 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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There are too few health visitors to implement the findings of new research saying that the profession could help new mothers suffering from postnatal depression.

Unite, the largest union in the country, which embraces the Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association, was commenting on University of Sheffield research which said that new mothers developing postnatal depression would be helped if health visitors are trained to spot signs and offer psychological help.

Dr Cheryll Adams, Unite Lead Professional Officer, Strategy & Practice Development, said that a recent Unite/CPHVA survey revealed that of the 829 health visitors interviewed, a third reported that they were not confident that their NHS trust's service allowed cases of postnatal depression to picked up.

She said: 'Recent cuts in health visitor workforces have led to the closure of many postnatal depression services delivered by health visitors.'

'If mothers are found to have postnatal depression, most prefer health visitor counselling interventions over drugs. However, there are too few health visitors available to perform this important service for new mothers.'

'This research provides clear evidence for reinstating a properly resourced and trained health visiting workforce to address this debilitating illness. Untreated postnatal depression can have severe implications, not only for the mother but for her whole family.' University of Sheffield researchers looked at 4,000 women. At the six or eight-week check, 600 women - 15% - were found to have signs of postnatal depression. This equates to some 100,000 women a year suffering from postnatal depression across the UK.

Unite is campaigning against the imposed three-year NHS pay deal which will mean pay rises being barely 50% of the current rate of inflation. More information is available on the 'campaigns' page of the website http://www.amicustheunion.org

Unite Health Sector web page http://www.unitetheunion.com/health
Unite/CPHVA press releases can be seen on the CPHVA website: http://www.unitetheunion.com/cphva

Unite is the largest union in the UK. It has seven professional sections: the Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association, the Mental Health Nurses Association, the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, the Society of Sexual Health Advisers, the Medical Practitioners' Union, College of Healthcare Chaplains, and the Hospital Physicists Association.

Unite was formed by an amalgamation of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union in May 2007.

Unite The Union

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