To be annoyed at baby weigh clinic?

[FroddyLoop]

My daughter has a medical condition that requires her to be weighed every week in order to administer the correct dosage of medication. I was told by her pediatrician that this would be a home visit. My GP then said they cannot facilitate this at this time (understandable as NHS on its arse), and I need to go to the weigh-in clinic locally.

It is unreasonably difficult to get an appointment at the weigh clinic and they refuse to make a ‘standing appointment’ for the same time every week, I need to ring every week and fight for one, I have no idea what day and time this will be so I need to be available at all times.
I then need to ring the GP myself after this appointment and tell them the weight. Most of the times it’s hard to get through and the GP’s receptionists are sometimes so rude to me and make me feel like I’m asking for some really out there request by asking them to note the weight.

Am I right to be annoyed by this and maybe see if I can take it higher to get the standing appointment or ask that these services communicate with each other?

Has anyone else had to do this? I’m just wondering if my trust is in line with others or my experience is different to others who may have had the same situation.

can it be facilitated at the nearest hospital instead? There have been times when I have taken DS to Peads outpatients for his weight to be monitored regularly.

Are you able to weigh the baby yourself? There seem to be relatively cheap baby scales online and would save a lot of hassle.

How old is your baby? Is there any way you could weight them at home yourself?

If the baby is still young can they loan you some scales? It seems like a right faff for you and being able to do something at home would make your life easier.

How long does it need to go on for, if its over a few months they need to put something better in place

I suggest you ask for the details of the manager for the Health Visiting service and request standing appointment. It's probably just a human oversight.

You should also be able to email the latest weight to the GP rather than phoning them.

I hope it helps

I will ask on Monday, this would be so much easier. Tbh I assumed it needed to be by a ‘professional’ because they’ve been noting the weights in her red book. I’m going to ask if I can buy scales and do it myself.

I was also going to suggest your own weighing scales if they allow you to use those for official recording. Would save a lot of hassle every week. Fingers crossed they say yes.

When my youngest needed measuring for head measurement and weight regularly it was arranged by the consultant for the health visitors to come out and do this as they took it on as a case. This was earlier on this year. Also our library have scales if you had a similar facility to get the weight and could maybe submit online?

I'm a manager in the NHS and complaints get taken seriously in my service. If we heard of someone who was having a bad experience and their complaint was fair and we could improve things then we would.
I know maybe not all services/trusts are as helpful but I would consider complaining or going through PALS.

I definitely think it’s worth a) checking whether you can weigh yourself and b) putting in a complaint to have this dealt with. It sounds like a typical “computer says no” situation.

I bought proper baby scales in 2020 when covid closed the weighing clinics so I could monitor my baby ( who had allergies, formula milk etc) properly. Well worth it.

You need to speak to the practice manager. You are not being unreasonable in what your asking and I think with all the information they will sort something for you.

would also suggest paediatrics if you are near to your local hospital, if not, buy them yourself

do you have a community nursing team?

My twins were born just before covid and we got abandoned by the hv for about a year. I bought myself some scales and filled in their red book each week. They might not have been that accurate though, I just wanted to see a weight gain it wasn’t linked to dosage for medication

In our area the weigh clinics are drop in centres at various times. Works really well! I’d always just turn up at 10am Friday morning, maybe wait a few minutes, get her weighed and leave. Seems annoying to have to book an appointment!

We ended up buying a baby scale when dd had to be brought in for daily weight checks. That would solve part of the issue.

for the second, I would ask for an email address. Calling in the number is crazy.

Usually the scales have to be properly and regularly calibrated to be used in healthcare so own scales can’t be used. I know how complex healthcare can be to navigate - I would call the Practice Manager and explain the situation and ask them to sort it out. It must be a real nightmare for you.

That sounds a right flaff

i have had clients Babies (I’m a maternity nurse) need weighing for medication
I recommend these. There are cheaper ones but that are precise

https://amzn.eu/d/7XgXjoQ

we used to have to do this too and the community nurses from the hospital did it for a while and then the health visitor actually loaned us a set of scales so we could do it ourselves.

Weighing your baby at home just involves standing on a normal set of bathroom scales, firstly holding your baby, then not holding your baby and see the difference in weight.

Yes, I got a text saying I’d been referred to them for weighing but they don’t have the facility to assist at this time.

i thought of this but I’d been told that wasn’t accurate enough with such a small baby. I’m going to see if they’ll let me buy a proper baby scale.

Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll ask. At least on the weeks when I can’t get an appointment!

4 months. I’m going to ask as this is going on indefinitely so it could be months/years!

When mine needed weighing the HV or HV assistant did it even through Covid
Locally now some libraries have baby scales

If you haven’t already it’s worth talking to your health visitor about this. They might be able to sort something more sensible out.