Health visitors employed by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board will return to work next week following an agreement that concludes a nine-month industrial action that resulted in the cancellation of thousands of appointments for babies and young children. The Unite union characterised the settlement as a historic achievement for its members, while the health board committed to establishing a new specialist role with expanded responsibilities. According to BBC News, the Welsh government has prioritised the restoration of services to families affected by the prolonged dispute.
The industrial action began in February 2026 when approximately 100 health visitors initiated the strike in protest against job grading decisions that they claimed resulted in annual salary reductions of up to £9,000. The dispute highlighted longstanding concerns about the recognition and compensation of health visitor roles within the NHS structure.
The scale of service disruption became evident through comparative data on home visits conducted by the health board, which serves Bridgend county, Merthyr Tydfil, and Rhondda Cynon Taf. During March to May 2025, the board completed 6,140 visits. In the corresponding period in 2026, this figure fell dramatically to 909 visits, representing a reduction of approximately 85 percent and underscoring the severity of the staffing shortage during the strike period.
What does the agreement include?
The settlement provides for all health visitors to be offered new positions within a restructured specialist role framework. The health board stated that the new specialist health visitor position would incorporate additional responsibilities and would be subject to standard approval procedures. Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham described the outcome as
a magnificent victory for health visitors, emphasising that
this dispute was about recognising the skilled, vital work health visitors do for families and children in their communities. Today that recognition has been secured.
The agreement represents a significant moment in NHS industrial relations. Similar recent settlements have occurred across the health service, including a resolution involving ward clerks at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, suggesting a broader pattern of workforce disputes being resolved through improved terms and conditions.
How will services be restored?
Health board chief executive Paul Mears stated that the immediate priority following the return to work would focus on rebuilding capacity and accessibility across services for families. He acknowledged that the new specialist health visitor role would strengthen service delivery and enable the health board to respond more effectively to local community requirements while addressing the concerns that Unite had raised on behalf of its members.
The Welsh government welcomed the resolution and committed to supporting the restoration of services that had been disrupted. A government spokesperson noted that health visitors provide essential support to children and families, including critical safeguarding functions, and that restoring these services to full capacity represented the immediate priority.
What was the impact on families during the strike?
The nine-month strike created significant challenges for families with newborns and young children across the health board's area. The dramatic reduction in home visits meant that many families lost access to crucial early intervention services, health assessments, and parental support that health visitors typically provide. Mental health charities had warned during the strike that babies and children were being put at risk due to the absence of these vital services.
The staffing challenges affecting health visitors in Wales reflect broader workforce pressures within the profession. Health visitors in England have reported facing unmanageable caseloads exceeding 1,000 families, with workforce numbers declining by 45 percent, prompting calls for statutory staffing limits and increased support to ensure adequate early childhood care provision.
What have political representatives said?
Plaid Cymru Senedd members representing constituencies within the health board area expressed relief at the resolution and welcomed an outcome that fulfilled commitments made to staff members. In a joint statement, they acknowledged that the dispute had illuminated the increasingly demanding nature of health visitor work and called on the health board to prioritise the rebuilding of relationships with its workforce while addressing service backlogs that had accumulated during the strike period and were affecting families seeking support.
Key Facts
- Approximately 100 health visitors employed by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board initiated strike action in February 2026 over job grading and pay, with members losing up to £9,000 annually
- Home visits conducted by the health board fell from 6,140 during March-May 2025 to 909 during the same period in 2026, a reduction of approximately 85 percent
- The settlement establishes a new specialist health visitor role with expanded responsibilities, subject to approval processes
- The health board serves Bridgend county, Merthyr Tydfil, and Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales
- The agreement concludes one of the longest-running health service disputes in recent Welsh industrial relations history
