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Original poster

Health and safety check on my home

19 replies

Jezz0987 · 24/12/2018 13:53

Hi I'm just checking if anyone else has had a health and safety check on their home? I've taken my son who is eight months old to a & e three times within a short space of time due to minor head injuries. The first time he fell backwards whilst sitting on the floor as a friend had not put any pillows around him. She took him off me so I can take a phone call. The second time he fell forward whilst playing and hit his head on the mirror leg and the third time I had gone out for the day and his dad had him and he fell off the bed, Obviously that was the most serious one. I have told my partner that he can get over pillows very quickly now but obviously he didn't realise just how quickly ...... I got home and he told me what happened so we took him straight to a & e just to get checked . I've now had a call from the midwife to say that the health and safety check needs to be carried out on my house ...... I now feel like my over worrying has got me into a pickle..... I just want to know if anyone else has had this check and is it a pass or fail type of thing what happens? Xx

OP posts:
WreckTangled · 24/12/2018 14:20

Do you mean health visitor? I work with health visitors and we get a notification every time someone goes to a&e. It's just a box ticking exercise really and they'll be seeing if you need any support. I'm sure once you explain what happened each time they'll understand. To be honest I wouldn't have taken mine to a&e for any of those so the health visitors would have been none the wiser Grin try not to worry they'll just be making sure you're all safe. Oh they'll probably look for stair gates too and advise you get them if you haven't already.

Original poster
Jezz0987 · 24/12/2018 14:34

Yes it's a midwife coming over.....it's making me feel like I've done something wrong when all I've done is worried about my baby as it's his head after all. I think I'd be better off trying to be a bit more laid back about bumps ect as if I take him to a & e every time I'll drive the doctors and nurses nuts 😂🙈 I am just a massive worrier and he's extreamly fidgety! 🙈I take him to the doctor even if he's just got a cold. My partner tells me that I over worry too but I just think how vunrable he is 🙈Xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Jezz0987 · 24/12/2018 14:36

Sorry yes I meant health visitor

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WreckTangled · 24/12/2018 14:38

I really wouldn't worry. Hopefully they'll put you at ease. They're very good at being able to differentiate between a safe home and one that's of concern. Just be honest with her, tell her what you've said above and that you acknowledge that you're over protective Grin

crosser62 · 24/12/2018 14:50

Do you suffer from health anxiety?
Do you really take the child to the drs for a common cold?
You will be in a&e or at the drs weekly by the time the child is 10 if you continue and don’t educate yourself on how to manage minor childhood illness.

Have a look on the NHS choices website. There’s loads of stuff on every illness you can think of, also good evidence based guidance on when to seek medical advice and what to look out for.
Sorry but if I were your hcp you would drive me demented.

WreckTangled · 24/12/2018 14:52

I recommend printing off this document it's really amazing and will come in so handy over the next few years for you OP. It's got everything in Smile

queenrollo · 24/12/2018 15:15

Certainly in our area this is standard procedure. More than so many attendances in A&E in a certain time period is flagged to the HV team for contact.
We went up when my son had a cast on his leg following an operation as I was concerned about a sore bit on his toe where the cast was rubbing.(we were directed to A&E by the GP in case the cast needed removing)
A week later we had to go up because he fell over (the cast made him unstable).
We got a letter from the HV telling us they were coming round to talk about 'safety in the home'. We phoned up and explained fully what both visits were actually for and declined their visit.
They told us that they aren't actually told the circumstances of the A&E visit, just that they have happened.

It won't hurt to let the HV come round and have a chat with you.

Original poster
Jezz0987 · 24/12/2018 15:21

Yeah I may well suffer a bit of Heath anxiety to be honest. Before I had my son I was always worried about my own health, even the smallest illness I thought there must be something more wrong. Now I've had my son all the health worries are about him. The thought of something being wrong is scary.
Sorry what is hcp?xx

OP posts:
MongerTruffle · 24/12/2018 15:24

HCP = healthcare professional

Original poster
Jezz0987 · 24/12/2018 15:40

Thank you xx

OP posts:
WreckTangled · 24/12/2018 15:42

In our area we are given a full a&e report for every child who attends so would know the reasons. OP please look at the little orange book I linked to, it really will he helpful for you.

Elisheva · 24/12/2018 15:45

Why don’t you go on a first aid course? St Johns run one specially for parents. Then you will have more confidence in yourself to assess illness and injury. Trust me, once he’s walking/running/climbing you'll be dealing with injuries all the time. An ice pack and a drink is normally sufficient in our house (3 D.C.), perhaps a plaster if it’s really bad Grin

crosser62 · 24/12/2018 16:47

It’s understandable because everything is worrying with a baby especially if it’s your first.
But you can manage minor illness yourself with a bit of reading, knowing “red flags” and using common sense. You don’t need to take up precious gp appointments for a cold and the like and you don’t need to go to a&e at every bump and knock.
You are a lovely caring mum, I don’t think that you need to worry about the health visitor.

DomesticAnarchist · 24/12/2018 17:07

@WreckTangled that link doesn't seem to work. Please could you try posting it again. Thanks

WreckTangled · 24/12/2018 17:09

Hmm it was a link to a PDF so maybe that's why. Here's a link to the web page where you can download it little orange book

DomesticAnarchist · 24/12/2018 17:15

Thank you. That really does look like a helpful document!

Original poster
Jezz0987 · 25/12/2018 13:24

Thank you all so much for the comments. I will take a look at the document. I'll try to calm down a bit I'm not sure why I find myself worrying so much.....maybe it's just due to him being my first and just wanting to wrap him on cotton wall. My Dad was the same with me so maybe it's just rubbed off on me a bit 😁🙂 xx

OP posts:
Kezzie200 · 25/12/2018 13:33

It might be that you are on your own? Dont know if you are.

My DD had terrible colic as a new born as I was really worried but I had my mother in law to ring (shed had 3 of her own and was a nurse) and my mum (2 of her own). So, I had people to ask. The decision wasn't down to me.

Do you have family you can ask about things too?

Original poster
Jezz0987 · 26/12/2018 13:19

I'm not on my own I just feel I more happy once I've had reassurance off a proffesional about health. I'm lucky that my partners mother (partner is father of my child we just aren't married) is so amazing but I wouldn't souly take her advice just because I think it might be old fashioned. I will defiantly try to be a bit more relaxed about the illnesses and will try to not forget that I can't wrap him in cotton wool xx

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