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.

We have been quite lucky, had midwife and HV visits in person when we got out of hospital (we had both been quite poorly though and then the midwife thought pnd as I just sobbed every time so no idea if that's standard).

6/8 week check all got a bit muddled - was supposed to be over the phone but it didn't happen and then they sent me the wrong dates for her first vaccinations and couldn't do them when I got there so I think because they'd messed up they got me in front of a gp for a checkup which weirdly just ended up being a glance at the baby and a flu jab??? Never looked at my scar and kind of poo pooed a bladder issue I mentioned which I'm now having to have investigations for 10 months later, but at least I was seen?

10 month checks happening in person at the clinic.

In Stockport

@SnackSizeRaisin

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

@SnackSizeRaisin can I ask where abouts in Cheshire you are? As our situation is very different.

At least if parents didn't turn up it would be picked up that they hadn't attended and it should be followed up.

@BendingSpoons

My son is 4.5 and has been waiting for SALT since he was 3.8!

Now we’re hoping his infants school will support him in sept!

DS turned 2 February I haven't heard a thing

DS has recently had his 2.5 year check over the phone, not even a video call so they haven't actually laid eyes on him. I was surprised as I had serious MH issues after he was born so I would have thought they would want to do a home visit or see us in clinic.

@MissyB1

Well all NHS workers have a backlog of cases, my dh is Gastroenterologist and yes it would be quicker for him to clear it if he said he was only doing telephone clinics. However he insists on seeing patients face to face as he knows how many important signs can be missed by not physically seeing and examining a patient. He’s literally had to fight senior management at times over this.

I work in a nursery and we are seeing unprecedented levels of developmental delay. Speech,social skills, physical skills. Some quite worrying. But what’s more worrying is a lot of these children have had video or telephone checks by HVs where no problems were identified!!
I’m guessing part of the reason for this is because parents who don’t know what’s expected at this age just say yes to everything they are asked, or they don’t want their child to be judged, so they pretend everything is fine. And some issues are just impossible to pick up if the child isn’t in front of you.
Getting help for those toddlers (who have had all their boxes ticked by the HV), and getting them up to speed in time to start school is going to be almost impossible.

Sorry rant over!

So you think that's because lockdown/covid restrictions have caused increases in those delays (e.g. through lack of social interaction, varied spaces) or is it just that there is a normal amount of delayed children but they haven't been referred?

My area wasn't offering them before Covid!

My 2yo is having his 2 year check in person, however I don't know if this is standard or if it's because we've been talking to the HV about a few concerns flagged by nursery for the last couple of months. I think they should be in person - it's hard to give a clear picture over the phone!

@Winkywonkydonkey
I suspect it’s a combination of both. But mostly due to too much time at home and not enough exposure to other people and experiences. Also (dare I say it) parents who had to wfh and toddlers put on I pads etc to enable this. Not judging just looking for reasons.

6-8 week check done in person. He's 11 months now and only had phone contact since. I raised a concern about my baby not hitting a milestone (babbling) when they called at 9 months. They said they'd call back in a couple of months. Heard nothing.

I agree it's concerning. Pretty sure my baby is okay but they have these checks for a reason and some babies in need of attention will fall through the net.