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Babies and children failed in pandemic response, warn health visitors
Activity equipment in the children's playground area of a park in London closed off during lockdown

BABIES and young children have been “forgotten and failed” in the nation’s pandemic response, health visiting leaders have said.

The Institute of Health Visiting’s annual survey, formally published today, found that 61 per cent of health visitors in England had reported an increase in cases of child neglect.

It also found four fifths of health visitors reporting a rise in domestic violence and abuse as well as perinatal mental illness.

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