The 10 Year Analysis of the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) in Scotland was published on the 6^th May 2022. This report examines the delivery and successes of the programme, the young parents who take part, and changes which have happened over the last 10 years of operation. The report aims to inform decisions that will continue to improve the programme, and ensure that it is delivering for the young parents of Scotland.

The 10 Year Analysis is a top level descriptive analysis of data captured in FNP data forms throughout its implementation in Scotland. This has been completed with reference to a wider evidence base including previous FNP trials and the FNP Scotland Revaluation report. Individual level data extracts have been received from NHS Education for Scotland (NES), which includes data captured on the TURAS system and data migrated from the previous system.

The TURAS system is a bespoke data system built by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) for use by the Family Nurse Partnership team within health boards and the Scottish Government for data collection and analysis.

The time period used for the report is from rollout of FNP in 2011 up to financial year ending 31/03/2021. The study focusses on clients who have completed 2.5 years of FNP and graduated from the programme, with some analysis of clients who left FNP prior to graduation.

The key aims of the study are to provide further information on client characteristics, programme delivery, and outcomes for clients and children enrolling into FNP. Another key aim is to interrogate the quality of data captured in the data forms.

Key Findings Summary of the Family Nurse Partnership 10 Year Analysis

Programme

• The data shows that 50% of women were enrolled onto FNP by 16 weeks gestation, and 97% enrolled by 28 weeks gestation. There is strong evidence for the window of opportunity that pregnancy, and particularly first pregnancy, brings to change outcomes, so early engagement is important.
• From 2018/19 onwards, 80% of all first time mothers aged 19 and under voluntarily enrol onto FNP.
• In 2018, 98% of FNP clients had experienced some form of trauma or adverse experience in their lives prior to enrolment, and 22% of FNP clients were care experienced or had been on the child protection register. Over 75% of families receiving FNP lived in more deprived areas (SIMD 1&2).
• Completion rates are slightly higher for clients who lived in more deprived areas (80%) at enrolment, compared to less deprived areas (74%)
• 77% of all planned visits were completed. The full benefit of the programme relies on delivery of all elements, so this is an area for improvement.

Breastfeeding

• Breastfeeding initiation among FNP graduates has slightly increased over the ten years of FNP to 45% initiation in 2019/20.
• There is evidence of increased breastfeeding duration over the ten years of FNP.

Child outcomes

• The data also shows that 84% of FNP children were a normal birth weight, most had no developmental concerns up to 24 months, and 95% have received all their immunisations.

Client outcomes

• FNP helps to encourage a broad change in the lives of the clients, and instil confidence in them. The percentage of FNP clients in work or education post birth increased from 20% at 6 months post-birth to 40% at 24 months post birth.
• Mothers are provided with advice on family planning, to help them take control of their futures. 2 in 3 FNP graduates reported regularly using birth control after the birth of their first child. 1 in 3 had a subsequent pregnancy in the 2 years after the birth of their first child.
• 54% of FNP graduates smoked at some point during pregnancy, though this decreased to 28% still smoking later in pregnancy. The majority of FNP graduates had not consumed alcohol or drugs during pregnancy.

You can watch the video on YouTube that marks the first ten years of the Family Nurse Partnership in Scotland: Family Nurse Partnership: 10 year analysis (youtube.com)

You can read the full report on the Family Nurse Partnership 10 Year Analysis on the Scottish Government's website: