Neighbour unhappy about HV

[shannue]

I received a telephone call from a HV just before Xmas to advise me that she would be visiting my neighbour at XX date and if she could visit me after.

I have had a very bad experience with the whole HV service in general and have made a complaint about a HV in the past.

Anyway despite me Opting Out this HV still emails, texts and calls every other month or so and she doesn't seem to leave me alone despite me telling her there are no concerns and I will take him to the GP as I always do.

Anyway I saw my neighbour yesterday and mentioned to it in passing that the HV had called me and wanted to visit me after she had been to hers and what was her experience with this HV as I found her quite harassing.

The neighbour got very upset and thought the HV had discussed things with me and said she has breached GRPR and advising people of her appointment, she was very upset with the HIV and wants me to make a complaint for us both.

I am not really sure if the HV had breached any GRPR?
I mean this HV is a real nuisance and is harassing but does it warrant a complaint?

I moved here 6 months ago and she said because I am new to the area they are required to do a home visit.

She mentioned that because of lack of time and staff the visit has had to wait to fit in with this appointment, if she had any concerns I'm sure she wouldn't of waited 6 months to do a home visit check.

Because her and her child's private medical information (which includes visits) is nobody else's business. At the least its unprofessional and in this case its a clear breach as the identity of the neighbour was made clear.

Similarly - the OP should not have to be bothered by an HV whose service has clearly been rejected. Its not compulsory and the quality of services is at best middling.

Both need to complain in writing and further up the chain of management. The neighbour should make the main complaint about the breach of privacy and personal information and the OP about the continued unwanted contact and being given another patient's information.

Respecting patient privacy is not difficult - it should be completely automatic to anyone working in healthcare. Respecting a woman's choice not to use a particular service isn't difficult either but its consistent with a system of healthcare which treats women as second class in so many respects.

I get what others are saying about her intentions being good, but that isn't relevant. She has overstepped and been unprofessional towards both you and your neighbour. I think both of you need to complain. The service won't improve if people don't report issues like this.

She hasn't broken GDPR by saying she's visiting your neighbour ... she didn't say which neighbour or specify her name. HVs have a hard job, they need to see children to ensure all is OK.

These are two separate things. If your neighbour wishes to complain she could understand HV - she may also mention in that you pressing her for info. If you wish to complain about unwanted communications then do so. Personally I wouldn't bother with either but that's me!!

Does anyone know who to complain to?

She refuses to provide the managers email and when you call the office they are very cagey.

You might have gone outside one day and just seen her walking up your neighbour's path, unless she wears a disguise for each different house? It's not private and confidential when you could have just seen her out your window.

Also what do you hope to get out of complaining? I work in complaints so what is you want? Would you like her to be disciplined or sacked? Do you want compensation and if so for what?

Complain about her behaviour with you if you like but you neighbour is a grown adult who can make her own complaint if she wants to.

You just don't like the health visitor and wanted to start a bitching session with your neighbour.

It sounds like you’re just trying to find something to complain about, in the hopes that it will make her leave you alone.

I don’t think she’s doing anything wrong by offering her services.

If she was turning up at your door, then I would think she’s a pain but simply offering her help is not something I’d get upset about.

Your reaction would be raising alarms for me and I too would want to come and see you to make sure you’re coping ok.

I personally would let her come once and then it may stop the contact if she knows you are doing ok.

Your HV contacts you and actually shows up?

Mine fell off the face of the earth, stood us up 5 times (with multiple call to the appointment center insisting she was on route but she NEVER came time and time again) with no explanation and won't reply to me or the school referrals despite my DD needing further testing.

Was the same with younger DS but they could blame Covid then, but thats not an excuse anymore.

As the OP has already stated she mentioned "next door neighbour" which is ample to work out the name of the patient with a young baby.

Its really easy and basic training to say "I'm in the area how about this time for you" instead of making the identity of the other patient obvious. IME people who are sloppy and dismissive of their own training in the law in this way are also sloppy and poor performers in other ways.

The service is optional - women who opt out should be respected and not hassled to meet tick box targets.

Yes I was wondering this, especially if they must visit due to relocation

The reason why we don’t get anything done in this country is because people complain. Everyone moans that the NHS and public service is bureaucratic but when people start raising GDPR and getting difficult what do we expect.

Whatever happened to being part of a community.

If you don’t want the services that’s fine but don’t try and be clever with GDPR. It just makes unnecessary demands on services and is a nuisance and no one will gain anything.

It’s not the best thing for the HV to say, but it’s not really breaching confidentiality unless the HV says what she is visiting for. After all, OP could sit and look out of window all day and see everyone who visits her neighbour if she wants to.

Sorry op, but I think, in the greater scheme of things, expecting a new mother and (more importantly her baby) to see a regular health professional isn't harassment, it's safeguarding. Mentioning that she was next door anyway so might as well see you isn't a confidentiality breach, it was just her way of persuading you to allow her to visit.
Edit to say that by raising a complaint you might be flagged as someone deliberately avoiding checks on your child.

I think this is a fair point re feedback for service improvement. You could provide feedback rather than complain if you feel complaining is a bit harsh. Probably just the main social service email with a note it's for health visiting team would be fine.

I think HV are crucial to child protection. When she asks you about childcare she's asking so she knows whether or not another professional (nursery) has seen your child.
A great pity more SS abd HV are not as interested, children across the UK needs professionals to protect them.

Can you ring up and ask to talk to the most senior Health Visitor available and say that you are prepared to wait.

I agree that the neighbour needs to complain herself about the GDPR breach. The HV gave sufficient information for you to identify your neighbour and that is not acceptable.

Add that to the complaint. She should not be refusing you basic information such as their own complaints procedures and her line manager.

On the letters which health authority/trust is mentioned in their address? It should be there somewhere. Try copying your MP as well and send it to "head of HV services" at the trust.

No bloody wonder good people are leaving the health service on droves. Bloody pathetic.

"HV here, I'm visiting your next door neighbour with the baby".

It would be a real stumper trying to work out the purpose of the visit - perhaps its a cover for someone running blackmarket Tupperware parties?

If you want to complain about the breach of confidentiality then fine - crack on.

However, as you are new to the area I think it is perfectly reasonable for the HV to try and visit you. I assumed that you had already had bad experiences with this HV department but it would seem you haven't even met them. I suspect if you meet with them once, be open and honest and then say that you don't want to see them again that would be sufficient to stop them trying to see you.

To be honest your unwillingness to engage with them would raise my concerns too.

Why don’t you stop looking for things to moan about, let the HV come and say hello, then get on with your life. Unless you have something to hide? You may have nothing to do all day, but the HV service is very stretched, they’re just trying to do their job. Making an unnecessary and vexatious complaint will just take up their time, when they could be helping people.

So health workers should be exempt from the laws which apply to everyone else, be able to ignore legal patient requests because they might leave?

Its unprofessional behaviour and I'd expect most HCPs to recognise that and be concerned about a colleague with a cavalier attitude to patient privacy and patient choice.

OP looks out of her own window 'Oh look there is my health visitor going next door in her uniform. I didn't know the health visitor went to my neighbour too. I'd better complain because she's breached GDPR by existing'.

“Timeforaglassofwine · Today 13:10

Sorry op, but I think, in the greater scheme of things, expecting a new mother and (more importantly her baby) to see a regular health professional isn't harassment, it's safeguarding. Mentioning that she was next door anyway so might as well see you isn't a confidentiality breach, it was just her way of persuading you to allow her to visit.”

This with bells on. We found some of this interest a bit overzealous when ours were babies but we recognised that it was based on making sure that our children were okay and we approved of that. I’m sure you’re a great mum but parents who harm their children also tend not to co-operate with health visitor and similar visits.