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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Do Health Visitors have any powers?

17 replies

millysimmons · 07/02/2007 16:02

May sound an odd question but having problems again with my HV & am getting more than a little peeved with the way they seem to threaten me & always tell me what to do with an or else undertone. Wondering do they actually have any power to force you to do anything? Do I have to see them & do I have to let them into my home?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Tortington · 07/02/2007 16:02

what are they saying?

Swizzler · 07/02/2007 16:03

Surely they're there to help, not bully you? Wouldn't have thought you had to let them in if you didn't want to. What are they saying?

morningpaper · 07/02/2007 16:04

I think mine had x-ray vision

WigWamBam · 07/02/2007 16:05

You don't have to see them, and you don't have to let them into your home. They can offer advice, but they can't force you into anything.

What are they saying?

marymillington · 07/02/2007 16:07

No - you don't have to see them or let them in.

But you could request to switch to another HV. Some are actually really lovely and don't treat you like an idiot. SOme even know some stuff about raising children!

kiskidee · 07/02/2007 16:09

you do not even have to see your health visitor, ever. and you don't have to give anyone a reason why not.

2gorgeousboys · 07/02/2007 16:09

My DS1 is 7 now but when he was a toddler I had problems with my HV. I reported her to the clinic manager and she was not allowed to visit me. They are there to advise and support you NOT to make you feel crap. With DS2 the same HV did the first two visits after he was born and then we did not see her again.

littleducks · 07/02/2007 16:10

They can turn naughty children into toads
but don't worry, you dont have to see them if you don't want to

Piffle · 07/02/2007 16:14

mine have had the power to totally piss me off at times...
What behaviours that your hv is displaying (like Attenborough regarding herds of migrating wildebeest)specifically are you concerned about?

Pruni · 07/02/2007 16:25

Message withdrawn

McDreamy · 07/02/2007 16:26

I must have been really lucky because I have thought every single one of my health visitors have been fab!

UCM · 07/02/2007 16:28

I had a HV come today and was totally shocked. She was 67. She has been a midwife for 30 odd years and is now a HV.

She was pretty brill as well, very old school.

Not sure what powers they have though.

3sEnough · 07/02/2007 16:42

Hi - I always thought they had the power to insist on seeing your child twice between birth and 5 (memory from 6 yrs ago so apologies if complete cobblers!)and they can also refer you to social services/police if they think the child may be in danger (def)

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 07/02/2007 16:50

I saw my hv's maybe ...5 times in ds' life, and each time they annoyed me beyond belief. The first one just didn't have a clue and went off with stress about 3 months after ds was born. our surgery had a nursery nurse anyway who would help with weighing and listen to any concerns. then they had this ancient old bat to replace the one who went off with stress who was immensely patronising, and the only time I saw her said "oh, um, do you have a homehelp/carer?" er no? "would you like one?" and the nursery nurse then cut in and said "I don't think so!" And that was it until ds was 3 and then I had a call from "the new health visitor" saying "I see from our records that you are blind, so I was wondering if I could come and see you?" "why" says I, "because I'm blind? is there evidence that shows I am less capable?" "well no, um, I was just curious really to see how you're coping". so she came, she was about 16.

ShinyHappyPeopleHoldingHands · 07/02/2007 16:52

Yes. They can disappear never to be seen again. Quite miraculous really!

mumofhelen · 07/02/2007 17:34

Go to www.aims.org.uk and in the search, type in health visitors. Your questions will be answered

funkimummy · 07/02/2007 17:44

No you don't. Went to my hv like a lunatic with DS1, now got DD, and have seen hv twice!!!!!

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