Healthy Start Scheme

(asked on 29th March 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of eligible people applied for the Healthy Start scheme in (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17 to date; and what plans his Department has to increase uptake of that scheme.


This question was answered on 24th April 2017

The figures for take-up of the Healthy Start scheme for 2015-16 and 2016-17 are as follows:

- Between 6 April 2015 and 3 April 2016, 197,842 eligible beneficiaries were invited to apply. 208,486 applications were received, of which 147,124 were approved as meeting the criteria (74%).

- Between 4 April 2016 and 5 March 2017, 198,319 eligible beneficiaries were invited to apply. 172,020 applications were received, of which 125,134 were approved as meeting the criteria (63%).

Expenditure on the Healthy Start Scheme is demand-led and based on the number of eligible people who apply for it. The Government is working to ensure that eligible families are aware of the scheme and how it can help them. It is promoted via the Healthy Start and Start4Life websites, reminding families to take up the vouchers. We are also exploring how digital technology could make it easier for people to receive Healthy Start benefits in the future, as part of the Government’s wider digital strategy. At a local level, midwives and health visitors play a key role in promoting awareness of the scheme.

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