Development checks during covid

[Russell19]

Hi all,

I'm just trying to find out if any authority areas are carrying out newborn, 1yo or 2yo checks in person?

I'm in Cheshire and ours are currently over the phone.

I am concerned about this for various reasons.

Safeguarding families get home visits too.

We had a health visitor check at one year in person but only because I had raised concerns about development. Only to be told to monitor and contact if concerns at 18 months. Low and behold concerns still there at 18 months so had to contact again. Assessment done over the phone and referrals made- tbh didn’t need to be seen in person the second time though so can’t fault them for that. Unfortunately it is very variable. My friend in neighbouring HV team has had all her visits in person (not on enhanced visiting). I think it is down to local team management and not necessary by choice of individual health visitors.

I have a 6 month old and no one has seen him since 6 weeks so I think that's 2 checks he's missed?

[quote bookh]@PrawnCracker1 that's exactly what my area states, that's what they put on FB, but as per my previous response that's not what's happening on the ground here anyway. Neither my daughter nor any of her friend circle have had a 27 month check in person. [/quote]
It does seem to be quite inconsistent throughout the country, perhaps depending on caseload sizes. My friend has an almost 3 year old who hasn't even had a phone call for her 27-30 month review. Her wee one is fine and there are no issues, but it's at this time if there are any issues, they can be identified early and thing put in place.

Oh and my 4yo didn't get his pre-school check

Over the phone for us, DD is 2.5

Baby born end of Feb 2020.
HV came to house around 1 week after the birth.
8 week check with GP was face to face at 15 weeks.
No checks with HV apart from 12 month review which was telephone.
I am in London.

@shouldistop

I have a 6 month old and no one has seen him since 6 weeks so I think that's 2 checks he's missed?

Nothing has to be offered in England between eight weeks and one year, assuming all ok. Your local area migt choose to do more but it doesn't sound like it.

My lo is 20 months, her 6-8 week check was at 4 months and this was pre covid, her BCG was cancelled because of a shortage of supplies, her 12 month check was done over the phone, and now I wanted to see a GP about her bowed legs but they're not seeing patients face to face.
I've no idea what gps are doing all day as the office staff do triage over the phone and only if they deem it necessary do we even get a call back from the doctor!

My son didn't get a 12 month check in July, but the health visitor did speak to me over the phone when I had a query..I'm about to give birth again and got a letter that said I wasn't going to get any engagement at all, and directing me to online resources. So I haven't had the home visit and God knows what's happening after the birth.

@Kakiweewee

Safeguarding families get home visits too.

But how would anyone know children need safeguarding if they've never been seen? We have thousands of children under the radar at the minute.

"and got a letter that said I wasn't going to get any engagement at all, and directing me to online resources"
From the health visiting service??? Do you mind saying where you are?

Op, exactly

Health Visitors in my area have visited all through the pandemic - but some standard visits have been risk assessed as to whether they need phone or visit, partly because the increase in child protection visits has been phenomenal. Reduction in face to face is to protect the public not the Health Visitor. New babies, in houses with covid, still had to be seen.

I'm in Hampshire.

Has telephone calls from HV in early days then a 8 week check with GP.
12 month review happened around 10 months. Was meant to be over videocall but ended up being on the phone.
Concerns me that I could of told her a pack of lies and she would be none the wiser

@StealthPolarBear I don't live in England. In Scotland I think were meant to at least see someone around 4 months. Well with ds1 there was a 'weaning ' appointment around then.

Yes Scotland does more

In our area, the HV are inundated with safeguarding- spending extra time with families known to be at risk. They aren't just sat in offices answering phones.

Not just now we don't

I had 1 in person HV visit after the birth of my daughter in November, follow up by phone. My 2 year old had her 2 year check via video call in March (which was really interesting with my 2 year old trying to grab my phone all the time and juggling a newborn too 😅).

To add am in Hampshire.

Dc4 hasn’t seen a health visitor seen he was 8 weeks old, he is 2 years and 1 month. Dc3 never had any since 8 weeks she is nearly 4. Dc2 only got her 2 year review at dc3’s only home check as there was apparently there was some sort of Change and lots of kids fell through an admin black hole and never received anything. The service was shockingly bad before covid.

My little boy is 2.5 years older now and no one has seen him since he was a few days old 🤷‍♀️
No checks up

Disaster waiting to happen

Sorry-in general. Not for the families on this thread!