To expect health visitor to call first?

[Neverbroken]

For the second time today my health has turned up at my door unannounced. No call, no appointment. I find it rude, then before leaving she asked to see where baby sleeps, I said my room is a mess and she walked right on in anyway. I found this very embarrassing and intrusive, baby is 5 months old and she’s also seen one of her Moses baskets in the living room. Can you request another health visitor?

Is there a particular reason that you know of that she’s visiting at 5 months? I’ve had three babies in three areas and the HV only visits once after being signed off from the midwife, and this is about 2 weeks PP. no further contact until the 1 year check.

You know you dont have to let her in? You wouldn't be unreasonable to say 'Sorry we have plans at the moment. Please call beforehand next time."
As for looking in your room my HV has never asked but again I would politely decline. It is intrusive and you're under no obligation to allow it.

Yes I agree with pp, I've never had contact with my HV past the 6 week checkup unless I specifically contact them. Is there a reason she's turning up unannounced?

I only ever saw my HV at the weighing clinic. Do you go there regularly? Have they previously has more involvement with you than a typical relationship e.g. high needs child, difficult home situation, PND? Do they have any reasons to be concerned about your child?

In all honesty I would rather a HV turned up unannounced at someones house where she had a concern and put her mind at rest - or if necessary confirmed her concern and she then reported this to SS - than she didn't bother and something happens to the child. Don't take it personally - she's just doing her job.

Ideally yes they would make appointments but if the time they appear isn’t suitable you could just have said so.

I do feel sorry for healthcare professionals / social workers etc these days they can’t do right for doing wrong. Their jobs are difficult and If your not busy surely seeing them isn't too much of a problem. They are just there to ensure parents and babies are going ok.

The asking to see where they sleep thing seems to be what happens these days so I wouldn’t be offended.

If you don't need to see a hv anymore asked to be signed off. I saw them once before birth and once after told them I didn't need their services anymore I was coping ok. Never saw one again apart from the odd time at the weigh in centre.

OPs previous posts detail why the HV is likely still involved.

Are 'spot checks' a thing if deemed necessary?

Are there other issues going on? I only seen my hv for the first check then never again, I last saw a hv when my baby was 10 days old, she’s now 2! If you want to see them around here you go to the baby clinic, they don’t just turn up. Why are they still visiting you??

It’s different area to area to all people questioning why she was there at 5 months. Some health visiting teams visit more frequently than others. She definitely should make an appointment first and has no right to just turn up.

Ah. Hadn't looked at previous threads.

I lived in one area where the health visitor would come approx 4-5 times in the first year then they’d just ask you to pop into clinic if needs be. The area where I live now the HV has visited three times since he was born and won’t visit again until he is two, there is no clinic whatsoever for some reason so I’d have to request to see them if I wanted to.

@Star81 completely disagree with your post...

A lot of jobs are hard. Mine, for example, would be made a hell of a lot easier if I could get all the information I needed from other people/departments the very second I needed it... but I don't. I schedule meetings/put time in people's diaries to discuss things, because it's the polite and accepted thing to do where I (and a lot of other people) work.

Yes OP could turn the HV away at the door, but if she doesn't have any actual plans at the time I can see why that would feel slightly awkward. Would it be that difficult for the HV, on the other hand, to roughly plan out his/her diary and txt/call a day/few days in advance to alert OP they were coming? If for no other reason than, without any kind of system, they must be wasting a hell of a lot of time currently driving around to see people who aren't expecting them so aren't home/have other plans/are generally put on the back foot having to see them at no notice. It's so inefficient and therefore a waste of public funds!

FWIW not all HVs operate this way; ours always used to give a day AND time and managed to stick to it thereabouts, so it is doable

Mine failed to turn up after arranging a visit. And when I got my records, I discovered she'd faked a call that she didn't make. Because I waited in with my phone at my side for the entire day.

That is a bit rude but maybe spot checking?

Also to other PPs, HVs in Scotland visit about 8 times in the first year here as standard, more if there are issues or concerns.

Yes you can request another one, you can also request none.

But saying my room is a mess isnt the same as saying no.

It sounds like HV has concerns and is just keeping an eye on you.

Also to other PPs, HVs in Scotland visit about 8 times in the first year here as standard, more if there are issues or concerns.

Are they optional there? As where I am you can just decline the service which I would do if they were turning up unannounced

Yes, HV services can be declined.

I only saw mine once, why are you opening the door to her without an appointment. Why is she still there after 5 months, has she or another HCP suggested why? Are they concerned for you or baby? it seems very strange.

Midwives in the first few days just turned up with both of mine. HV always by appointment. She did ask to see where DS was sleeping (when he was a couple of weeks old), but I could see she felt awkward asking so it's obviously on the list of things she's been told to check and not just her being nosy.

You can ask her to make an appointment for you next time, you can request a different HV (providing there is currently one available), and you can tell the office that you no longer require the service - because it is a service. You don't have to have it. In the first instance I would ask that she write to you with an appointment next time, or call you to arrange one.

Sounds like she’s concerned if she’s doing random spot checks, you can opt out. I did, they’re nothing but trouble!

It’s entirely normal for HV to make unannounced visits, and it’s good practice to see where the baby is sleeping etc especially if there’s any concern for the well-being of mum or baby. HV are a statutory service, they have a joint health care and safeguarding role and will want on occasion to see how things are on a day to day, not expecting anyone basis. They aren’t trying to catch you out, they’re looking to see that you’re doing ok. The messy room is neither here nor there - that wouldn’t worry them.

I saw a hv once at home, three weeks after my Orem twins were discharged from hospital. That was it.

Are you in England?

Would it be that difficult for the HV, on the other hand, to roughly plan out his/her diary and txt/call a day/few days in advance to alert OP they were coming?

I’m not saying it’s the case here, but there are very good reasons for not alerting parents to a visit beforehand.