Rachael Hearson's guest appearances

Rachael Hearson

Woman's Hour

I am a Health Visitor

Kamala Harris

Cara Delevingne

Dolly Alderton

Cathy Rentzenbrink

Nancy Pelosi

Kate Malone

Hillary Clinton

Eve Ensler

Zadie Smith

London Hughes

Oprah Winfrey

Toni Morrison

Glennon Doyle

Elizabeth McGovern

Brené Brown

OwlTail

We chat to Rachael about her wonderful book "Handle with Care: Confessions of an NHS Health Visitor". It was so easy and wonderful to talk about her journey to writing the book, as well as all the daily challenges of health visiting in the current climate, chronic underfunding, poor understanding and valuing of the health visiting role and increased pressure on health visitors.We hope you feel heard and understood listening to this - you are doing such a wonderful job.

We chat to Rachael about her wonderful book "Handle with Care: Confessions of an NHS Health Visitor". It was so easy and wonderful to talk about her journey to writing the book, as well as all the daily challenges of health visiting in the current climate, chronic underfunding, poor understanding and valuing of the health visiting role and increased pressure on health visitors. We hope you feel heard and understood listening to this - you are doing such a wonderful job.

"Handle With Care: Confessions of an NHS Health Visitor" with author Rachael Hearson

It’s fifty years since the Equal Pay Act became law, though employers were given a couple of years to prepare for the change to take effect. The legislation followed the strike of a group of women machinists at the Ford factory in Dagenham who wanted to be paid just as a man would for doing skilled work. It set out that an individual can claim equal pay for work of equal value. However, it’s proved tricky over the years for women to find out what their male comparators were earning. It’s also proved tricky for women without financial and legal support to use the law. However, cases have been brought over the years and as the law has been strengthened. Last year, Glasgow City Council agreed to pay out a reported £548 million in compensation to thousands of women who were paid less than men working in jobs on the same grade. Jane is joined by Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC and by Jane Hannon, Employment partner at the law firm DLA Piper Health visiting is one of those professions that most people think is a bit of a non-job. After 40 years in the NHS and 30 as a health visitor, Rachael Hearson tells us why this is not the case. She’s written about her experiences and explains how the role has changed and why it’s needed more now than ever before.  Her book is called Handle With Care.Public toilets have been a well-known victim of council cuts, leaving the UK with 50% fewer toilets than a decade ago. Coronavirus has caused even more closures – albeit temporarily. But where does that leave people who need urgent access to the loo? Jo Umbers from the Bladder and Bowel community explains how this issue is affecting women of all ages.  Raymond Martin, from the British Toilet Association, discusses the economic and health importance of public toilets in a post-Covid world.Producer:  Louise CorleyEditor: Karen Dalziel

It’s fifty years since the Equal Pay Act became law, though employers were given a couple of years to prepare for the change to take effect. The legislation followed the strike of a group of women machinists at the Ford factory in Dagenham who wanted to be paid just as a man would for doing skilled work. It set out that an individual can claim equal pay for work of equal value. However, it’s proved tricky over the years for women to find out what their male comparators were earning. It’s also proved tricky for women without financial and legal support to use the law. However, cases have been brought over the years and as the law has been strengthened. Last year, Glasgow City Council agreed to pay out a reported £548 million in compensation to thousands of women who were paid less than men working in jobs on the same grade. Jane is joined by Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC and by Jane Hannon, Employment partner at the law firm DLA Piper Health visiting is one of those professions that most people think is a bit of a non-job. After 40 years in the NHS and 30 as a health visitor, Rachael Hearson tells us why this is not the case. She’s written about her experiences and explains how the role has changed and why it’s needed more now than ever before. Her book is called Handle With Care. Public toilets have been a well-known victim of council cuts, leaving the UK with 50% fewer toilets than a decade ago. Coronavirus has caused even more closures – albeit temporarily. But where does that leave people who need urgent access to the loo? Jo Umbers from the Bladder and Bowel community explains how this issue is affecting women of all ages. Raymond Martin, from the British Toilet Association, discusses the economic and health importance of public toilets in a post-Covid world. Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

The Equal Pay Act at 50,  Rachael Hearson Health Visitor, Public Toilets