POVERTY is blighting the lives of an increasing number of young children, according to research published today, which shows that most health visitors have reported a rise in the number of families affected.

Almost nine in 10 respondents to a survey by the Institute of Health Visiting said they had seen an increase in the use of foodbanks, while half reported more families skipping meals as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

Health visitors work with families with babies and young children under five across Britain identify health needs as early as possible.

The researchers found that 93 per cent reported an increase in poverty affecting families over the past 12 months.

Just over three-quarters of health visitors reported an increase in perinatal mental illness, affecting a mother during pregnancy or in the first year after the birth of a child, and more than two-thirds reported a rise in domestic abuse.

The institute said health visitors had seen a deterioration in babies and young children’s safety, health and development, with 82 per cent reporting an increase in children with speech, language and communication delays and three-quarters seeing a rise in child behaviour problems.

Some 81 per cent of health visitors told of an increase in children with safeguarding concerns that now fall below the threshold for a children’s social care system, which the report described as being “saturated with need.”

The report warned that services were “focused on ‘firefighting’ rather than prevention, identification and early intervention.”

Among its recommendations, the institute called for a greater focus on prevention and early intervention, along with concerted efforts to “end the current postcode lottery of health visiting support.”

A spokesperson for the government said it was continuing to help families with cost-of-living support and taking “significant action to improve children’s health.”