Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be confused about letter from health visitor?

114 replies

Lottie10000 · 09/02/2015 10:27

Hi,
We moved boroughs in September, registered with the doctor and the children's centre ( we have 2 children one 3, one 4 ) straight away.
Both started pre school here in October, all fine.
Called the doctors last week to book in my daughters pre school jabs as we are moving again to a different borough in March so thought it made sense to get them done before we move.
All booked in for next week.
On Friday we got a letter through the post, written to my daughter ( younger ) not myself, saying
Hi, I am your new health visitor and wondered if I could see you at home on Wednesday 25th feb at 10am. If this isn't a good time please call and we can re arrange, take care.
Whilst I think the letter is rather unprofessional, and she is on annual leave as I've called to ask what it's regarding and the receptionist sounded like she was half asleep, I'm confused as to why at 3 1/2 a health visitor would want to visit us at home.
And why just her and not my older daughter of 4 years 7 months?
We have no concerns, pre school have never mentioned any concerns so a little confused!

OP posts:
Stealthpolarbear · 09/02/2015 13:41

Prob just send one per family to youngest child

Ilovereadingbooks · 09/02/2015 14:03

I had a HV ( this was over 17 years ago now) who just went on and on about her own children/ grandchildren all the time! my neighbour had a baby the same time as eldest, so she had the same lady and even she mentioned how boring she was going on and on and not that interested in our children! I gave up with the weigh in as soon as i could and second son only went once or twice! they are both fine. If you don't want to have this visit i am sure it could be put off by you. If you do see them i hope she is nice and has something constructive to say.. !

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 09/02/2015 14:04

Yep we have moved twice and both time health visitor has been over.. Pretty standard stuff I think. You'll prob find your other child will get at letter at some point but sure the hv will just see them both when she visits. Don't worry.

desperatedino2015 · 09/02/2015 14:10

When we moved from Kent to Staffs the health visitor came to see my dd too. She was 3 at the time, must be protocol.

Original poster
Lottie10000 · 09/02/2015 14:24

Hi,
I thought it was unprofessional as it read
To daughters name
I am your new health visitor and wondered if I can see you at home at 10am on 25th February.
If this isn't a good time please call and we can re arrange,
Take care,
Rose.
It was handwritten and quite messy and it just came across not very professional to me!
Where we lived before and we had reminders of the kids health checks / immunisations they were always printed and addressed to myself or "parent of"
They don't know what days my eldest dd attends pre school or whether she will be here that day so that was what I found confusing on top of just her visit in general as I said we've moved before and not had this.
She's welcome to come however we are only here until may so not sure there's much point but I thought they had to come if requested, had no idea you could decline.

OP posts:
TattiePants · 09/02/2015 14:30

My 4 year old DD had her 4 year check last week. The HV said it is a new check they have introduced in my area (NE) to ensure there are no issues before children start school and before their care is handed over to the school nurse. I had a couple of questionnaires to complete before the visit and they were for ages 42 - 54 months so it may just be a normal visit for your current area.

Nicknacky · 09/02/2015 14:30

No she doesn't know what your daughters routine is which is why she suggests rescheduling if it isn't convenient.

I don't see why a handwritten is unprofessional? It's probably quicker to do the than boot up a computer, type and then print it.

Does she know you are only in the area a few months?

I can't be bothered seeing my HV, and she stopped coming when my youngest was a few months old but I would welcome a introduction if I moved and I'm encouraged that children who may be in need don't just slip through the net. I have family members who left an area when the school and ss started to pay attention and I hope a HV sent a similar letter to the new area.

lovestodazzel00 · 09/02/2015 14:33

It is fairly routine. I would be inclined to allow the first visit just so they can see the children are happy and healthy. Then you can speak to your HV about cancelling any further home visits. I do think it would raise some questions to flat out refuse, unfortunately some people refuse these visits in order to hide things, I'd say at least one won't hurt x

Heels99 · 09/02/2015 14:41

For goodness sake you are over reacting. It clearly says call to re schedule if need be and there is nothing wrong with a hand written note.
Are you normally this anxious?
You will get another one when you move again, it is normal.

Original poster
Lottie10000 · 09/02/2015 15:13

I'm not anxious, confused but not anxious!
As I said it looked messy and I thoight a bit odd to write to a 3 year old but my main wondering was because only one child, when both are under 5, received the letter!
I'm guessing she doesn't know we are moving soon although I did tell the gp when I booked in her jabs that I wanted them done now ( as they said they usually send a reminder letter ) as we would be moving shortly and didn't want them to be left too long as she is already at pre school and will be again when we move so I didn't want them left as she's around lots of kids

OP posts:
Pagwatch · 09/02/2015 15:22

Just phone up and say you don't need the appointment. It won't be a problem at all.

BertieBotts · 09/02/2015 15:24

I think it was probably meant to be friendly, a printed letter can seem a bit official and frightening! I expect she just wants to say hello. Don't think anything of it, and make sure you have a clean mug!

BertieBotts · 09/02/2015 15:24

I expect she wrote "to" one child as they will hear about both at the same appointment, and the second is only just under five.

ohdearitshappeningtome · 09/02/2015 16:40

I too also feel you may be over reacting. It's probably quicker and easier and more convenient to write than to LoAd a computer then a program then print

There's nothing wrong with them letting you know there is a service in your area which is good.

Also i wouldrather have a hv take an interest than be ignored and a child be in need of support!

Accept the first visit explain your moving again and then you never see her again.

Original poster
Lottie10000 · 09/02/2015 17:03

Hi,
I will happily have the visit if she still wishes to come along once I speak to her when she's back and let her know we are moving in a few months.
It just seemed strange to me as never had any visits when we've moved before ( although closer in distance to the last property always a different district ) and I just didnt really understand why only one child would receive it, as surely it will to see both however if I didn't call her and she just came along she wouldn't see my eldest as at pre school etc

OP posts:
CrispyFern · 09/02/2015 17:13

It doesn't sound unprofessional to me. It sounds great.

She didn't enclose a leaflet about Bacardi, or topless holiday snaps.

See her if you want, don't if you don't want.

Hmm
Idefix · 09/02/2015 17:15

I would take it as a good sign, that there is good communication between the gp and HV. A visit is meant to be offered to all children under five moving into a new area, it means you have been put on the books. Worked in lots of places where this does not happen due to poor communications, too much work, new patients and not enough staff to cope.
Fairly common to write to the child's name as others have said.
I guess the one thing worth bearing in mind those of you who have questioned the input of HV they are often amongst the first to spot problems in families, especially as they do the home visit. HV are quite often a useful font of local knowledge too.

Momagain1 · 09/02/2015 17:20

Huh, when we moved back to the UK, but to Scotland, I would have loved a Health Visitor to come along and advise me what was what and how to access it. I just sort of stumbled in, not having any idea things were much different than they had been in England 5 years previously.

Also, isnt part of the reason for the HV to reduce patient load at the GP? Last time around, in England where ds was born, it took me a while to get my head around using the HV for advice on feeding, weight, milestones, really, everything except immunizations. (In the US, you always and only go to your doctor, even though s/he may do little more than pop in and agree with everything the nurse has said or done and hand you a pamphlet or a flyer re: the coming stages. The sort of thing the HV does.) So saying you will skip the HV and just contact your GP means either you are finding very little need for any care (fair enough) or you are wasting resources. Doesnt it?

LizzieMint · 09/02/2015 17:28

We moved area two weeks ago and the HV called last week to introduce themselves and arrange a visit. Don't have a problem with it personally, I was also quite impressed they were organised enough to get on it so quickly!

Original poster
Lottie10000 · 09/02/2015 18:33

It would have made sense had it been 2 weeks on instead of nearly 5 months!
Also, I don't think it would have been that difficult to say " meet you at home to introduce myself and our services " instead of no explanation and the admin staff having no clue what I'm banging on about.
All the admin person could say was that usually they only have time to visit new families with children under 1 years old but she didn't know for sure Smile

OP posts:
LuluJakey1 · 09/02/2015 18:36

This is probably part of safeguarding procedures. When Victoria Climbie died one of the findings of the investigation was that children who move from one borough to another, especially more than once, can fall through gaps in child safety provision. It doesn't mean all children who move are at risk, but offenders are often transient and move often to avoid authorities.
Schools and healthcare track children more carefully now so that all children are in the loop and known about. The vast majority live in loving homes but no child should fall through the gaps.

MissAMinton · 09/02/2015 18:41

I phoned and declined my ds's 24 month check as he's ds3, I'm a urse and his childminder didn't have any development concerns.

They didn't ask my reasons though simply wrote 'mother declined check' and have never contacted.me again.

cloutiedumpling · 09/02/2015 19:21

It is possible that she thought your daughter's name was in fact your name. My HV has phoned before and asked to speak to my DD, which was a bit strange given that she was only 9 months old at the time. The HV said it was something to do with their computer system not being clear about which name was the mother's and which was the baby's.

Original poster
Lottie10000 · 09/02/2015 19:22

Wow I would hope moving wouldn't automatically be deemed as a safeguarding risk as unfortunately the major downfall of private renting is that tenancies aren't secure for very long! Sometimes you have to move to another borough to secure a home / job and there's little I can do about that!
Not going to look great now when I talk to them than we are moving again come may time as we've found a long term let somewhere else and an area more commutable for work!

OP posts:
hippo123 · 09/02/2015 19:30

You may of moved into a sure start or flying start area. Here they do many more developmental checks at home, 12 months, 2 year, 3 year etc. this services stops on the child's 4th birthday although they are still on the books, hence only really being interested in your youngest. Don't stress about it, it's perfectly normal in some areas.