Over 100,000 health reviews of children completed on time across Northern Ireland
Date published:
New official statistics published on 30 October 2025 by NISRA statisticians in the Department of Health, reveal that of the 119,027 expected health reviews of children across Northern Ireland for 2024/25, some 103,878 (87%) of these were completed within the recommended timeframe.
Key findings:
- The number of reviews undertaken - both on time and in total, was lower than the previous year. However, the percentage of on time contact during 2024/25 is higher than 2023/24.
- 9,956 (8%) of health reviews in 2024/25 were completed outside the recommended time frame (contact early or late).
- During 2024/25, 4% of the health reviews were not completed, compared with 6% in 2023/24.
- New baby health reviews have steadily increased since 2015/16 from 85% to 93% in 24/25.
- As a result of workforce pressures, the Public Health agency has previously issued interim measure guidance to Health and Social Care (HSC) trusts that the one year contact could be omitted under specific circumstances. Therefore, the number of one year health reviews had fallen to as low as 26% in 2019/20. In 2024/25 this has risen to 62% as the interim measure has since been stood down.
About this publication:
This publication provides summary statistical information relating to Health Reviews for pre-school children in Northern Ireland. Health reviews support early detection of developmental concerns, promote healthy parent-child attachments, monitor growth and development, and help identify families who may need additional support.
This publication has been produced to measure the rate of completed child health contacts/reviews carried out by Health Visitors.
Further information:
View the full report and data tables: Healthy Child, Healthy Future: Health Review Statistics for Northern Ireland 2024/25