Are our children getting the Best Start? An analysis of delivery & equity in health visiting services in the Born in Bradford?s Better Start Cohort

The Healthy Child Programme is a national initiative designed to give every child the best start in life. It is provided by health visitors who provide a universal service to all families while offering extra help to those who need it most.

The programme includes five key check-ups starting from the late stages of pregnancy through to when a child is two and a half years old. These check-ups allow health visitors to track a child’s development and offer guidance on topics like safe sleeping, nutrition, and managing minor illnesses. By providing this early support, the programme aims to break cycles of inequality and improve long-term health.

However, since responsibility for health visiting moved to local government, the service has faced significant challenges. Funding has dropped and there are fewer staff available, leading to differences in how the programme is delivered across the country.

While national services were under pressure, local initiatives were also introduced to provide extra support (Better Start Bradford). We will look at health records over the last decade to see how many families received their scheduled visits from health visiting services, and link these to data which tracks engagement with both Better Start Bradford services, and Midwifery antenatal appointments. We will find out whether local health visiting services are able to meet the needs of local families, and whether this has changed over the past ten years. We will also explore whether certain groups – such as those from different ethnic backgrounds or those who speak English as a second language – face barriers to getting help. By identifying these gaps, the study hopes to ensure that all children receive the best start in life.