MPs ARE being urged to highlight the severe lack of health visitors in London, where Hounslow has been indentified as a crisis 'hotspot'.

Health union Unite is asking ministers to sign an early day motion (EDM) in the Commons as fears grow over child safety because of the falling number of health professionals.

Unite's research showed that the situation in a number of the capital's primary care trusts is getting worse, as the number of new health visitor registrations nationally has slumped from 712 in 2005 to 253 in 2008.

NHS Hounslow was identified as a 'crisis hotspot' with some workers being asked to handle more than three times the recommended case load.

One health visitor, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Chronicle that the ongoing shortages mean it is only a matter of time before an incident like Baby Peter - the toddler who died in Haringey in 2007 following 17 months of abuse - happens in Hounslow.

She said: "We're really worried that because we're so busy we're going to miss something serious, which could be another Baby P."

Health visitors, who provide advice and support to families with children aged between two weeks and 16 years, are often the first line of defence when it comes to child abuse.

Unite's research found that each health visitor in Hounslow has an average of 1,025 children to look after. But the Chronicle discovered one example with even more worrying figures.

One health visitor revealed that the Heart of Hounslow health centre in Bath Road, Hounslow, has just two health visitors dealing with a case load of about 3,000 families. The recommended case load is 350-400 families.

The EDM, a motion to bring the matter to debate in the Commons, was sponsored by the Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, John McDonnell, and calls on ministers to undertake 'an immediate investigation into health visitor staffing levels in London' and to work with Unite and other relevant unions to address the staff shortage.

Unite's national officer for health, Karen Reay, said: "John Donnell's EDM is very welcome and adds to the growing realisation that health visitors are essential when supporting families and their health needs.

"They also play a vital role in child protection and ensuring that there are no more tragic Baby Peter cases."