A nine-month health visitor strike in Wales has officially ended after the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and the Unite union reached an agreement. The resolution allows staff to return to work next week, ending a dispute that disrupted thousands of appointments for babies and young children.
The health board confirmed it would develop a new specialist health visitor role with additional responsibilities. This change is subject to standard approval processes but aims to address the core issues that led to the industrial action. About 100 health visitors had been on strike since February, citing job grading concerns that they claimed resulted in a loss of up to £9,000 annually.
New Specialist Roles and Service Restoration
Unite union officials described the agreement as a historic pay win and a major victory for the workforce. Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, stated that the dispute centered on recognizing the skilled and vital work health visitors perform for families in their communities. She called the outcome a magnificent victory for the staff involved.
Paul Mears, the chief executive of the health board, welcomed the resolution. He emphasized that the immediate priority is restoring services for families. Mears noted that the new specialist role would strengthen services and help the board respond to local needs while acknowledging the concerns raised by the union on behalf of its members.
During the strike, home visits dropped dramatically. The health board, which covers Bridgend county, Merthyr Tydfil, and Rhondda Cynon Taf, carried out 6,140 visits between March and May 2025. The board stated that safety and accessibility of services were its primary concerns during the disruption.
Political and Government Response
The Welsh government welcomed the return of staff, stating that restoring services for babies and young children is now the priority. A spokesperson highlighted the important safeguarding role health visitors play in supporting children and families. The government expressed satisfaction with the route taken to resolve the long-running dispute.
Plaid Cymru Senedd members representing constituencies across the health board area said they were very relieved that health visitors were set to return to work. In a joint statement, they welcomed an outcome that delivered on promises made to staff. The politicians also called on the health board to rebuild relationships with its workforce and tackle backlogs affecting families.
The dispute had highlighted the increasingly demanding nature of the health visitor role. With the agreement in place, the focus now shifts to rebuilding trust and ensuring that the new specialist roles effectively meet the needs of the communities served.
Source: BBC
