So what is the point of Health Visitors?

[wonderstuff]

I've seen 3 so far, they all seem very nice, but really not very useful.

Today lovely lady came by, did PND questionnaire, weighed my baby. Talked about weaning - advised that some babies (especially boys) are ready for weaning at 4 months, to be aware of him taking interest in us eating couldn't give any advise about BLW as no reseach has been done and she doesn't want to get sued - fair enough, but seemed strange that on the weaning age she was willing to contradict research evidence. She also warned of 'missing weaning window at 6 months' I didn't ask what would happen - will I end up bfeeding forever, Little Britain style? Told me breastfeeding was tiring (there was me thinking it was the lack of sleep that was knackering but presumbably if I bottle fed I'd have much more energy?) She stayed for half an hour.

Really what is the point - could money be better spend on Midwifery or Social care?

They seem to exist mainly to disseminate outdated information. I work in breastfeeding support and about 80% of our time is spent mitigating the poor 'advice' given by hv's. The other 20% is dealing with the non-existent breastfeeding support on postnatal wards.

My own health visitor is very nice, by the way. She knows bugger all about breastfeeding though, which would also be fine if she didn't keep trying to advise women about it.

I've experienced 3.. 1 was worse than useless and couldn't tell a birth mark from a bruise, reported us to SS because my 3 week old baby had a birthmark.

One didn't understand metric weights and thought that 0.01 of a kilogram was one gram. And tried to sneak a 2 year check for my toddler in without me noticing while she was allegedly here to see the baby.

and the most recent didn't understand that I don't want the HV service here at all as a result of the experiences with the first one I mentioned and that they brought on panic attacks thus their presence was negated if they're supposed to be "support" for the mother. I had to go so far as telling her that it wasn't personal but she was not welcome here at all and if she or any other HV turned up again they would not be allowed in nor to see my children.

and the HVs here are offended that some of us don't welcome the intrusion? If you'd had this sort of experience with members of a profession, would you want them visiting you? To be honest, you being offended by the negativity towards HVs is a good thing - maybe you can take it a step further and solve the problems listed.

Mine are great and the support locally is amazing. I love that I can take my baby to baby clinic any day at the first sign of problems

I don't see the point of my health visitor's job. She came 2 times, and now I have to go to a visit her. Feels like I became her health visitor...
My baby's next appointment is on the same day when we have appointment with the DR who will do the same things, except write to the red book.
The Health Visitors Centre is far from my house. I can't walk to the place, there is also no bus stop around. So I need to take cab to visit her, which cost me a lot, when I could spend my money elsewhere.

I would like to ask, if anyone knows: where can I give feedback to this service?