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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be upset about health visitor

41 replies

Nightflower · 17/12/2019 19:15

Hi, I have been a long time lurker, but this would be my first post

I've been asking my health visitor to connect me to eRedbook pretty much ever since it was released. I had a regular hv and she said that her team didn't received anything more about it than a leaflet, and that they will look into it but nothing happened. She left the team a few months ago and last week I had my first meeting with someone else from the team. I have mentioned the eRedbook again and the lady didn't even hear about it, she then asked two more colleagues and one of them said that they received a leaflet a while ago but nothing since then.
What bothers me is that this area was one of the first to have the eRedbook introduced, like the early test stage, the senior HV work as well in the hospital where it was first introduced and it was fully released in the city last year.
Even if they have access to it they just don't want it, especially the senior ladies who are not very familiar still with tehnology Blush
I have contacted the support team from eRedbook and they said that my HV shouldn't have any problem getting me connected.
I am shy and I don't think I would have the guts to tell my HV face to face that I now she is not telling me the truth, but on the other hand I would really like to get connected and be done with it. I am not sure how to aproach this without sounding rude or getting into an argument Confused

AIBU for being upset that the HV doesn't want to connected my account and possibly not wanting other mums know about the option to have the red book online

OP posts:
IndecentFeminist · 17/12/2019 19:17

I'm really not sure this would bother me tbh.

georgialondon · 17/12/2019 19:18

Does it really matter?

sleepymummy2019 · 17/12/2019 19:19

I don’t see this as a big deal really. If they’d rather you had a paper book and they find it easier I’d imagine you’d be better off using one. It’s only really useful for a few months while your baby needs weighing and to log jabs.

Why does it bother you?

EspressoPatronum · 17/12/2019 19:36

Yanbu. They offer a service which you would like to take up and is their job to provide. They should keep with the times and update their training if they are unsure how to use it.

OhTheRoses · 17/12/2019 19:41

Well mine couldn't advise about breast feeding or immunisatiins because she wasn't an expert. I decided the red book was a waste of time anyway and only engaged twice with ds and not at all with dd.

Non issue op - sorry.

myself2020 · 17/12/2019 19:50

Don’t expect anything from a health visitor ever. They are the biggest waste of nhs money ever.
Paper red boom is find btw,

Original poster
Nightflower · 17/12/2019 19:59

My DS is having problem with his weight, it would be easier to track and have the charts to show/share with the psychologist (who helps me deal with his eating problem)
Also it would send me reminders about their ( 3 DC ) immunization and "live" updates. I have missed my twins immunization because the GP didn't send the letter about upcoming immunization as they regularly do.
I specifically expressed my interested in having my account connected. It is a service only they can do and they denied my access to it.
It would only take max 2 minutes to have it connected

OP posts:
Waveysnail · 17/12/2019 20:03

Do you have the paper version?

FalalalalaloreanFortescue · 17/12/2019 20:03

The doctor not sending out a reminder is an unrelated issue. YANBU to expect something offered to you to then be available.

Strongmummy · 17/12/2019 20:06

I’m not sure why this is a big deal for you.
If it’s bothering you that much you’ll just have to say something

meredithgrey1 · 17/12/2019 20:09

YANBU to want access to a service that should be available to you.

But I've found my local health visitor team to be beyond useless. So you may end up having to just drop it.

Savingshoes · 17/12/2019 20:19

support.eredbook.org.uk/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01021
It doesn't say the health visitor has to register you, I'm lost?

hatgirl · 17/12/2019 20:20

I think you are massively overestimating the capabilities of the public sector to communicate this kind of information out to the actual people who are supposed to be delivering it.

Two health visitors have told you that they have only ever received a leaflet about it. That's probably true.

The support team at eRedbook won't have the foggiest which HVs are up and running with the system and which have only ever had a leaflet. They have sold their product to the NHS/LA and the NHS/LA in return will have enthused about how wonderful and easy it will be, will have done all of the public promotion but not actually underscored this with actual training and resources for staff.

Frustrating for you, yes. Your health visitors fault, probably not.

Is there any reason you can't share the paper version with other professionals?

Savingshoes · 17/12/2019 20:23

From what I'm aware, health visiting teams are now made up of one or two qualified nurses that have topped up their training to health visiting level and the rest of the staff are carers.
A bit like teacher with TAs.
So some of them are not qualified to advise on bf etc because they aren't nurses.

Original poster
Nightflower · 17/12/2019 20:25

If my eRB was connected I wouldn't had miss my twins immunization as I would had got reminder that is coming/due, so it is related.
( I didn't miss my appointment because none was made but that's different issue)

The lady HV that was my "regular" was very helpful (except the eRB problem)
I had problem breastfeeding, post natal depression, and she's done everything that she could related to my DS eating problems and then done the referral needed. She was very easy to talk to and understanding.
The rest of the team, at least the ones I had deal with couldn't care less or be of any help

I think that it bothers me so much because they lied to my face that they can't get me connected.

I could theoretically ask the midwife, but she is so stretched and I don't want to waste her time with something like this. The health visitors are relaxed, lots of them in the team and have the time to do it and they don't want to.

I am not asking for an extra service so I don't see why they deny my access to it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nightflower · 17/12/2019 20:29

Not register but to connect my account to NHS so it would sync with all the immunizations, weight charts, grow charts, milestones, send "live" updates/info and so on.

(Sorry I am not sure how to reply to someone directly)

OP posts:
KitKat1985 · 17/12/2019 20:34

Honestly I'd stick with a paper version. It's easier.

fallfallfall · 17/12/2019 20:34

is it meant for you to register yourself?
i can see how a hv wouldn't be allocated the time to set you up/use your home computer etc.

hatgirl · 17/12/2019 20:36

Are you seriously calling the health visitors liars because you believe what a completely unrelated person on a product support line from a private IT company who have sold a product to the NHS told you?

Don't you think it's far more likely that the support line person was just saying what you wanted to hear to get you off the line because as far as they are concerned their product works and any staff implementation problems aren't their problems to deal with?

Al1ceinWinterWonderland · 17/12/2019 20:38

How old are your children that you are still receiving midwife care?

Original poster
Nightflower · 17/12/2019 20:38

I don't have most of the weight recorded in my red book. My HV usually writes them on the PC and doesn't bother to write them down in the red book or if she does she somehow manage to mess it up ( wrong date, my DD weight instead of DS ), so the chart/info I have in the book is not accurate and is not helpful for the psychologist to see how DS been growing, when his weight problem started. She said it would help to see the chart and determine how abruptly his weight changed and stuff like that

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 17/12/2019 20:50

Can’t you just write the immunisation dates in a diary or on your phone? You can google the schedule.

Original poster
Nightflower · 17/12/2019 20:51

I am not receiving midwife care, that's why would be unreasonable to get the midwife involved in this.
Midwife and health visitor are the only ones who can connected to the NHS, that's the only reason I meantion it.

No, everything is set up, I have done my account and everything, the HV just needs to click on my email address/ name and click to connect it to NHS

I guess it is possible for the support team to tell me what I want to hear, but I have problems trusting the lady who is in charge of the HV team because I asked her for a referral for my DS and after 2 months of no answer and her telling me she sent it and it takes time, my -then- regular HV checked and there was no referral sent, note or anything .

Twins started nursery, DD just turned two

OP posts:
slartibarti · 17/12/2019 20:57

Why didn't you record the weights in the red book yourself?
You're allowed to write in it and you can make sure the recordings are accurate with the right date etc.

Gizmo79 · 17/12/2019 20:59

Just so you are aware. Most HV are not paediatric trained and so are a bit out of the loop with babies.(being polite here)
I found this out when I had a HV with my second baby- asking me inane questions and I was sitting there as a good paediatric nurse does and just waited til she asked what I do for a living. Then visible embarrassment and removal from my house ASAP!
However, just to mention that if you do not engage with HV’s, it does get noted (ridiculous as it’s meant to be a voluntary choosing, but still).

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