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No contact from Health visitors

3 replies

Babybum21 · 10/11/2021 04:25

Has anyone had experience of their local health visitors lately? I’m just wondering if our experience is typical. I do understand the system is under strain with the pandemic but the lack of support we have experienced is terribly disappointing. So I originally tried to get hold of the health visitors back in Oct 2020 on recommendation of the GP when I had concerns about my then 18 month olds development. I called their hub number numerous times with no answer so GP referred us to the child development team who advised she was delayed but they would re-assess this August (this hasn’t happened yet due to COVID but is a separate issue). Around Sept/ Oct I noticed that all the other kids in my NCT group had long since had their 2 year check but we had not heard anything. I had also noticed some early developmental delay with milestones in our 5 month old twins so reaches out again. Was told they didn’t know why our DD was missed from the 2 year check but scheduled an appointment 1 month ago. I briefly spoke with a duty health visitor who didn’t really give any advice but said we would need to be assigned a new health visitor as our previous one had retired. At the same time our DD also had her 2 year check where it was noted she is very delayed- again I was told that the new health visitor would contact us to deal with concerns about all three children and coordinate what services would need to be involved with my eldest DD. Since then it’s been nearly a month. Twice a week every week I have been chasing for someone to call me. Every week they say someone will definitely call but then Friday passes with no call. I’m almost at the point of giving up, it’s like banging your head against a brick wall. I did manage to dig out an email after searching online and have sent a message outlining how much difficulty I’m having to even just talk to a health visitor- any health visitor. Really don’t know what else to do to be honest. It’s so hard to even just speak with the admin team- they answer 1/10 calls and have no provision to leave a message. Can anyone share their experience lately of contact with health visitors or give any advice about what else I could do to try get some support? I think if nothing improves we will have no choice but to seek private help….

OP posts:
Hotpot33 · 10/11/2021 10:31

Yes very similar experience. Pre pandemic too.

My son is 5 years old. We alerted the HV at around 5 months regarding his development. She was good and came put the following week, referred him for opthalmology, audiology and early development service.

Never heard from her again. Wasn't much for her to do, I guess, once he was under the relevant services.

Since had 3 HVs (I only know this from ringing up and requesting referrals or signatures on paperwork).

I now have an 11.5 month old baby. I have the same HV for my son and daughter. I asked her to review her early on due to concerns around her development. She did. Not heard from her since. I still have concerns. I contact the gp now and request direct referrals to the services I know we need from previous experience (I.e. physio ).

CP2701 · 10/11/2021 23:35

I would say it's not the norm and it's totally unacceptable. If you have concerns, go through your GP and explain that you can't get advice from a health visitor. Absolutely appalling!

I am in Scotland and if I need to contact my health visitor, they either answer or they call back the same day. My daughter has all of her home visits and even an extra one (which I think was unnecessary but won't grumble).

skkyelark · 11/11/2021 09:18

Also not typical for me (also in Scotland). My 2 year old daughter has had all her checks (one over the phone during first lockdown). I think I've rung them twice –once they answered, once they rang back within a reasonable time.

I agree with @CP2701, I'd go to your GP for checks and referrals and explain you've been trying the HV for a month with no luck.

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