Hundreds of families in the South West are to benefit from a drive to recruit more health visitors.

More than 130 extra health visitors have already been recruited across the region since April 2011 and a similar number are due to be trained next year.

The recruitment campaign is part of a national drive to ensure every family with children under the age of five has a dedicated health visitor.

The NHS wants to see an extra 4,200 health visitors working across England by 2015. It hopes this will help to improve public health and the wellbeing of children and families around the country.

In the South West, the NHS is recruiting qualified nurses, midwives and student nurses to start paid, specialist training this September.

Philippa Potter, associate director of nursing for the South West, said: "Health visitors make a real difference to the lives of local families.

"It is a rewarding profession where you can see real results from your work – whether that is reassuring new parents, or finding specialist services to help children in need of them."

Health visitors can advise parents on a range of matters concerning their child's health and development, from immunisations and breast feeding to diet and sleeping patterns.

Ms Potter said: "They monitor wellbeing, behaviour, communication skills and learning.

"Health visitors can also put parents in touch with other NHS or community services, such as breast feeding support groups, child speech therapists or support for postnatal depression."

The NHS in the South West is currently looking for qualified nurses and midwives, or students training for either of these two professions, who are interested in working with children and families as a health visitor.

Ms Potter said: "It's an exciting time to join an expanding profession."

To help raise awareness about the health visiting profession, two final-year university students from Solent University in Southampton have produced a short film for the NHS, called the Grumpy Baby video.

The light-hearted film, which can be viewed on YouTube, illustrates the important role health visitors play and why it could be an attractive career option for those interested in working in the NHS.

Families who think they could benefit from the support of a health visitor can find out more from their GP or midwife.

Details on how to become a health visitor visit will be available on the South West NHS website www.southwest. nhs.uk/healthvisitor from Monday.