Merton Health Visiting Team raises the bar in early years health improvements at national conference
Our fantastic Merton Health Visiting Team, alongside the London Borough of Merton were delighted to present their achievements on the impressive progress made in increasing uptake of the 2–2.5-year review at the NHS Public Health Nursing Conference in central London earlier this month.
Hosted by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the conference supports the Government’s ambition for 75% of children to achieve a good level of development by age five by 2028. The team has sustained high uptake for the 2–2.5-year developmental review, consistently exceeding national KPI targets over a significant period. Health visiting has been identified as a crucial element in achieving this goal, ensuring that children starting school in 2028 are confident, healthy, and ready to learn.
This achievement reflects a truly collaborative effort between health visiting and early years partners within the council. The journey began in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, when teams identified a sharp decline in uptake rates for the 2–2.5-year review. Determined to make a change, they worked together to improve outcomes for local families in Merton.
The 2–2.5-year health review is a vital part of the Healthy Child Programme, offering every family the opportunity to assess their child’s development and wellbeing. These early checks help identify any emerging concerns, ensuring that children receive the right support as early as possible, reducing the likelihood of longer-term health or developmental challenges.
To understand and address the barriers to engagement, the teams conducted a comprehensive review of their data, identifying families they weren’t reaching. They analysed health inequalities, engaged directly with parents and carers, and even went door-to-door to ask why some families missed their appointments and how services could better support them.
The teams also reviewed and redesigned the 2–2.5-year pathway from initial booking through the Children’s SPA to the delivery of high-quality developmental reviews that have received outstanding feedback from families.
This work demonstrates the power of partnership, innovation, and commitment to ensuring that every child gets the best possible start in life.
Commenting on this remarkable achievement and sharing her pride in the team’s success, Shelley Heffernan, Head of Clinical Services, said: "As a Health Visitor of many years, this is the first time I have seen the 2-2.5 year review uptake this high and the credit goes to the dedication and hard work of the amazing Health Visiting Team, who were posed a challenge and their tenacity and creativity to ensure they achieved so they could support the families in Merton”.
