Just heard they're now stopping the 8mth development check too!

[homemama]

Just been to clinic to have DD weighed. The HV was discussing with the 'helper' lady that the red book will soon just be an information booklet rather than a record as all the development checks have now been stopped.

She then asked if I knew that DD will not have any developmental checks as the 8mths one has just been stopped and the 2yr and pre school ones have already been phased out.
I'm really shocked by this. I thought getting rid of the 2yr one was bad enough but not to have any almost seems negligent.

I'm not too worried for myself, although it would be nice to know how she's doing, as I have an older one so would be more likely to notice anything unusual but what about first time parents with no comparisons? She said the onus is now on the parents to seek help if worried and then things will be investigated. Well that's alright then!

I found the checks provided more unnecessary worry than reassurance.

I think I went to one, about 7 months - just got asked if he was crawling etc. I think maybe they were origionally to do the hearing tests, which are now done at 10 days instead. I found it pretty pointless - 2 year check I think would have been sensible to keep though.

It is truly shocking homemama, truly shocking.
When I had my first I really needed those checks to reassure me and it gave me an opportunity to chat with the hv. There will be an enormous fall out from this. There will be childen who suffer because these checks are not being made.
I noticed on dd2's 2 year check paper work that I could tick the boxes and then choose to make an appointment if I wanted.
Now, if I was worried I would, but those children who need keeping an eye on are going to slip through the net. They will not be taken to clinics and the hvs will have no idead what is going on.
At some point these checks will be phased back in when enough childfen have suffered through their absence

I agree, Kitty! Surely prevention/early intervention is cheaper in the long run.

Hallgerda and QP,I take your point but many parents may not notice something or lack of something as strange or a worry when in actual fact it is.
Even if they kept one check (pref.the 2yr one) then less children with physical or cognitive dificulties would be slipping through the net.

Confident, aware, experienced parents will still go to their HV if they suspect a problem. It is not the children of those parents who slip through the net.

IMO, cutbacks here are a false economy and damaging.

I understood the new system to be a HV would come and visit a new mum for the first 6 months in the home and talk about development etc and then with subsequent children you would contact the HV if you became concerned about any issues (having already been through it all at least once)and the developmental checks would be phased out. This was the plan in N yorkshire when I left a year ago but I moved abroad so I it may never have happened!!!

Sobernow, I agree about the tickboxes! Esp the one which asks if you have any concerns; yes/no How do you knowif you don't know IYKWIM

Mcdreamy, that would be marginally better but not the case here.

Glad to hear they've been scrapped tbh. See them as just another opportunity for hvs to show how c**p they are. Ds's 8 month check was a farce and the following 2 were no different.
One thing I would say, though, is that gps don't have much clue either. When I've had concerns about ds I've ended up sitting there while they consult a number of child development books and getting really vague replies - only to then have to wait 10 weeks or whatever for referrals. Should be the possibility of accessing a paediatrician directly for experience-/knowledge- based advice if you feel it's necessary. Much more blase nowadays at taking him straight to a&e where I know a paediatrician works between 9 and 7 and I can get "instant" feedback.

homemama, I agree with you that prevention is better than cure, but perhaps the money saved on not doing the checks on everyone is being used on giving more attention to those likely to have problems?

they post out a questionnaire now ... you fill it in and it will sign-post any worries you may have

HVs are a waste of time anyway .. I wouldn't fret it

Some are twiglet, most of mine have been really good and have helped me enormously over the yeras. The checks have been reassuring for me even as an experienced mother.
But honestly, those who are in need of help aren't going to fill in the stupid questionaires. I think the checks were about catching those who aren't sure about child care and development and keeping an eye on them. What's going to happen to those children now ???????

Here in Switzerland you can go to the doctor or to govt organisations abit like plunket - they send you info - you go if you want to.

I agree Kitty. It's like the, 'do you consider yourself to be a victim of domestic abuse?' question on the mothers post natal questionnaire. Those who really are are unlikely to tick yes!

I think lots of mothers think, 'my HV is rubbish and my kids are fine so it's a waste of time/money.' But, if we look at it more objectively then surely we can see that many children with various not altogether obvious problems will not get help as early. All at a time when we should be pushing for more early intervention.

A nursery teacher recently told me that she picked up, on average, one child a year with a significant hearing loss usually due to glue ear. These children often have very poor language and social skills but their parents have just assumed they are taking a little longer to speak. These problems could be picked up at a 2yr check.

Strange, I'm in West Sussex and ds had his 8 months check and was specifically told that they will do another check at 2 years. She even said that I could bring him on 18 months for a weigh in and height check if I wanted. Is it not just you particular clinic that is phasing it out?

my HV came round to us at 5 months to talk about weaning (which was interesting) and we've not seen hide nor hair of her since and dd is nearly one.

my understanding is that where i live they try to establish need in the first 6 months then devote their meagre resources towards the people who they have observed struggling. all they need to know is that you are the tyoe of person who would go to the doc's if they thought anything was wrong and then they can leave you alone, surely?

I'm very surpised about this. My DS's severe developmental delay was picked up at the 18 month check. Whilst I had personally felt there were significant concerns, all and sundry had made me feel like an obsessive middle class mum. If the HV hadn't swung into action, he would have missed out on vital early treatment.

Chocolatedot, your experience proves my point really. It's not so much that the 8mth check is in itself important more that no development checks at all any more can't be good.

M2FD, no, it's not just my clinic. You are very lucky to be in an area where they still do the 18mths/2yr check as most health authorities have been phasing those out over the past 2years.

We have them still in Nottinghamshire. DD2 is nearly 10 months and is having her 8-12 month check on Monday.

DD1 had her 18-24 months check-up in August when she was 22 months.

How come some areas have stopped? Perhaps I'm lucky?