the uses of heath visitors?

[YBR]

Background: I took DD2 to the nurse with a rash this week and she told me I should have seen a HV about it. Even if I ignore that a rash might be meningitis, scarlet fever and other serious things, our local HV team is so under staffed (with appalling admin support too) that I'd be lucky to get an appointment within a fortnight.

Made me think though - I always got the impression HVs are for developmental and growth stuff rather than medical. Did I get that wrong?

[wheresthelight]

My understanding is same as yours tbh!! If I had a prebooked apt with hv then I would have mentioned it but if not the Dr/practice nurse would be the logical person

[hippo123]

No, your right. For something like a rash you should make a gp appointment, or if you suspect meningitis a&e. Hv's are there to help with monitoring your child's development and weight and referring to speech, hearing etc, assist in helping with breastfeeding or formula feeding, watching out for signs of pnd and helping with it, providing advice on weaning and home safety, assisting parents who have poor housing conditions / overcrowding, domestic violence. Running parenting courses. Then of course there's all the safeguarding and child protection stuff. And the fact that everything has to be written down and recorded.