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.

DC2’s 1 year check last week via video call, never seen the HV in person (no problems seeing GP though).

It was a lot better than DC1’s 4 years ago though as then we just got sent the questionnaire to complete and send back, no phone call or follow up!

My daughters 9-12m check last year was over the phone despite it being summer when some restrictions were lifted. I thought it was a bit poor then that we weren't seen properly, she was premature with severe growth restriction and had been seriously ill during her first winter (on a ventilator in intensive care). I will be unimpressed if we arent seen face to face for her 2 year check as I want to speak with them about some oral motor function issues that they will need to observe physically, both DH and I are vax and they should be too so it really should pose a low risk across the board.

So to clarify. The healthy child programme is the framework for health visiting in England. 5 core contacts are offered - 28 weeks of pregnancy, new birth (around 14 days) 6-8 week postnatal and 1 and 2 year health and development reviews. All families are offered these contacts but others are 'targeted' if there are additional health or safeguarding needs and extra visits offered.
We did new births and any child protection families face to face throughout lockdown. All other contacts were by phone or video j less there was an identified need for a face to face.
Health visiting is about identifying, assessing and meeting health need. It is reassuring that most people on Mumsnet who think HVs are useless have no health need at all.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

My daughters 9-12m check last year was over the phone despite it being summer when some restrictions were lifted. I thought it was a bit poor then that we weren't seen properly, she was premature with severe growth restriction and had been seriously ill during her first winter (on a ventilator in intensive care). I will be unimpressed if we arent seen face to face for her 2 year check as I want to speak with them about some oral motor function issues that they will need to observe physically, both DH and I are vax and they should be too so it really should pose a low risk across the board.

Can you get in touch sooner if you have specific concerns? Or is your appointment coming up?

It's picked up via antenatal appointments or previous history, concerned family or persons contacting social services, certain risk factors etc. (I'm not a HV, so I'm not well versed)

MrsPD those five contacts are mandated but it's not fair to say all files are offered them I'm afraid, as we're seeing here. It varies.

@Kakiweewee

It's picked up via antenatal appointments or previous history, concerned family or persons contacting social services, certain risk factors etc. (I'm not a HV, so I'm not well versed)

There's a lot that can go wrong!

Families not files. Thanks autocorrect.

@StealthPolarBear exactly! And as I say even when I raised my concern about the lack of adherence to their own policy within our locality, they replied with the same policy.....despite me pointing out I have had none of those checks.

For sure. Mum is moving to Scotland where there are smaller caseloads and more contact with families. She hates the tick box approach in England, she especially likes to support maternal mental health as a previous mental health nurse.

I'm in Cheshire too. It was originally supposed to be over the phone but because I have raised some concerns and we've been referred to ENT regarding the issue, they have agreed to do the 1 year check in person.
I had to fight for it though.

I've got an 18 month old. I'm in Scotland. We haven't seen health visitor since the 6week mark. She was due to come out around the first lockdown. Any milestone checks have been over the phone. Haven't heard from them since she just turned one year old.

None of the authorities have seen my child or checked his safety since his 1 year check in 2019. His 2 year check in 2020 was done over the phone and I haven’t been contacted since. I’m not worried because I’m a decent parent and I know he’s happy and healthy. But as pp said I do think it’s worrying for the kids who have slipped through the net because illness and abuse isn’t being picked up due to the lack of in-person checks.

Will it change before the next baby P?

I had my DD in April 2020 and the newborn and other health visitor checks were all over the phone. I got a letter last week saying "we've noticed your daughter has never seen the health visitor, please call us if you would like to see the health visitor ! I've no concerns luckily.
DS 27 month check was in person though. I am in Surrey .

My baby is 5.5 months. I had a video call with HV when I was 36ish weeks pregnant (I think!), newborn home visit and day 8 follow up visit from HV and also the community midwife home checks until we were both signed off on day 10. Also had 6/8 week video call with the HV and then a face to face appointment for both me and baby with the GP around the same time.

There are still weekly clinics running for weight checks etc but you can't just drop in, you have to make contact with the HVs first and they decide whether you go to the clinic or have a home visit. I haven't used the service though so can't comment on it other than knowing its available to those who need it.

@StealthPolarBear
I completely agree. The disparity in services is shameful. Many areas are not adequately staffed to undertake the checks and the shift towards feeling like a social worker is escalating all the time. HVs where I am are burnt out and leaving in excess.
I have always worked in a locality where the service has been pretty good. We do all of the checks, run a couple of drop ins a day (pre covid) and offer an enhanced visiting program. In my area everyone works so hard (up to 8 visits a day). It makes me so sad that we are thought of as useless as people have posted.

DD's two year check was done over the phone but the HV did give me the option for a home visit or phone and I picked phone. I had no concerns and this was much easier for me logistically.

My DD is coming up to 28 months old. I have her 2 year check booked in person in the next 2 weeks. We're in the Midlands. I was really surprised it was in person. Fully expected it to be over the phone. I didn't mind either way. She's my DD2 and I don't have any concerns about her, but I think the whole situation is worrying and children could definitely fall through the cracks.

"It makes me so sad that we are thought of as useless as people have posted."
Agree - impossible job with the constraints. Individual health visiting teams are not to blame.

@MrsPatrickDempsey I don’t think you are useless, just unnecessary for the average parent. Breast/bottle feeding Weaning , speech problems , safe sleeping , developmental milestones etc all the information is readily available to parents. I opted out , I have 8 children and having been a parent for 22 years there is absolutely nothing a HV could offer me.

South Hampshire here - 1 year check was done f2f during the November lockdown. HV said they’d continued doing as many as they could f2f but there did have to be a priority list based on need (challenges at 6-8week, new to the area, flagged risk).

Referred for physio assessment 6 weeks ago due to walking concerns at nursery. This was f2f as well.

Meanwhile I had to argue with the triage nurse at the GP surgery to get a f2f when toddler showed the signs of tonsillitis (it’s recurrent and bacterial) 😑 she was convinced I could just do the checks and compare to example photos...

I'm in Cheshire too and round here they are doing the appointments in person. I don't know whether they are doing the early one at home but the later ones (1 and 2 year) you attend clinic which has always been the case.

"What about children who are at risk living in unsuitable homes who may have not been seen by anyone in over a year?"

Presumably their parents would just not turn up to the appointments anyway though? They aren't compulsory

It makes me so sad that we are thought of as useless as people have posted.

I think the service is invaluable to those needing extra support or to perhaps pick up those parents who struggle. My mum always speaks very highly of her HV (she had pnd and really suffered, her HV went above and beyond to look after her) that was in the 80s. And round here the HV support a Breastfeeding group which is really great.

But for people who are not depressed, are reasonably educated, and have support, they don't need HVs and a lot of the advice can be patronising or just wrong. It's always the way though - you have to pitch it towards the lower end and will inevitably annoy some people.

I work in child protection and this worries me too.
Social workers and police Officers have continued to visit children throughout the pandemic so don’t understand why HVs aren’t doing the same