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Pediatric Health Care - How does it work?

8 replies

TinCan · 20/01/2006 14:09

I'm expecting my first child in a couple months and need help understanding how his pediatric check-ups will work. I'm originally from the US and this will be my first foray into the pediatric healthcare system in the UK.

Do I just take the baby to my local GP Surgery?
The local GP I have used for my own healthcare is awful (frankly, just plain stupid) and I wouldn't dare take my child there.

When do I schedule his first appointment?

I am located in Clapham South (Wandsworth) - any recommendations/advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks.

OP posts:
mummytosteven · 20/01/2006 14:14

Yes, you register your baby at a local GP surgery. It doesn't have to be your GP, but will have to be a local one. Your baby will be checked by the hospital paediatrician at one day old, and then checked again at about six weeks by the GP. You are likely to have more contact with your Health Visitor than your GP for routine matters (Health Visitors usually do immunisation).

LIZS · 20/01/2006 14:17

You will be assigned a midwife and health visitor when you are discharged, or a community team based at the hopspital depending on where you are. At first they will visit you at home (mw for up to 10 days-ish before hv takes over until aged 5-ish). You should schedule a 6 week post natal checkup for yourself with your gp. There are clinics held by Health Visitors in your neighbourhood (at your gp surgery or another location close by) at least weekly to which you can just turn up for weighings, advice, support and to meet other mums of similar aged babies, then when the vaccinations/check ups are due you'll get a reminder in the post.

hth

Sparks · 20/01/2006 14:32

More info on local services on the Wandsworth PCT web site.

If you think your GP is useless, go ahead and change to another practice. In London you should have a few to choose from. In the surgery I use, there is one GP who is hopeless, but the other 2 are very good. I just make sure to book our appointments with one of the good ones.

Piffle · 20/01/2006 14:37

In some/most? hospitals a paediatrician will check your baby over if you have it in hospital befreo you are discharged then you go into home based midwife care, then to health visitor (oh yay not - hope you get a good one)
I left 2 hrs after having dd so had to come back 2 days later for her check up.

LeahE · 20/01/2006 14:55

Your baby is seen by a paediatrician in hospital before you are discharged.

Then you'll be visited by the community midwife at home for the first week-10 days (depending on how things are going).

Then she'll sign you over to a health visitor. Where we are (also Wandsworth, but the Putney end) they have two HV clinics a week (one morning, one afternoon) at the GP's surgery that you can make appointments for, plus one afternoon drop-in session at a local health centre where you can just turn up. You can also leave them a phone message and they'll call you back at other times. Typically for a first baby you might see them every week or two for weighing etc. at first, but it's up to you and if there's no cause for concern you needn't go that often.

Your baby will need to be registered with a GP. They will give you his NHS number at the hospital when he's born, and you'll get a form to give to the GP when you register the birth. Effectively the GP will take him on as a temporary patient right away and add him to the practice list when they get the form.

If you aren't happy with your existing GP then it's as well to look into changing now. Is it the whole practice you don't like, or just one particular GP? You could ring round other practices in your area (from phone book) and see if they cover your address. Each practice will have a fairly limited geographical area from which they'll accept new patients, but in London it normally works out that several of these areas overlap so that you have a choice.

The baby's first check (after the one in hospital) will be at or around 8 weeks. At our practice the health visitor does part of it and the GP does the rest, but I don't know if that's standard. Again, the practice might make the appointment for you automatically or you may need to call and make it yourself -- you need to check.

Then, apart from vaccinations if you are vaccinating (generally with a nurse rather than a doctor) and seeing the health visitor at whatever intervals seem appropriate, the next official developmental review is at 8 months and generally with a health visitor. They do make it clear what to do if you've got any developmental concerns before that, though.

You should have a post-partum check at or around 6 weeks (our practice does them at 8 weeks so they can see you and the baby all in one, but I think that's unusual) -- again with the GP.

If your baby is ill your first point of call if it doesn't seem urgent is the GP. They will refer you to a paediatrician if it seems appropriate. Or, if it's urgent, you can take them to Accident & Emergency Many hospitals have specialist paediatric Accident & Emergency departments where your child will be seen by specialists. There is also the NHS direct number (will be in the booklet your health visitor gives you) that is very helpful if you don't know what to do. You ring and explain the problem and a nurse rings you back, talks through checklists and advises you on what to do next (get GP appointment / go to A&E / wait for X hours and watch for any of these symptoms, etc.).

LeahE · 20/01/2006 14:55

P.S. Which hospital are you having your baby at?

TinCan · 20/01/2006 15:24

Thanks to all for your help - it is much clearer now! I am giving birth at Chelsea & Westminster. My maternity care and delivery are all private so fortunately I haven't had to deal with my GP for my ante-natal care. I presume the community midwife and health visitor scheme will still apply despite the fact that I've gone private??

OP posts:
Sparks · 20/01/2006 15:37

You would still be eligible for those services, but your private midwife might not notify the hv/community team routinely. If I were you, I would ask about this at my next antenatal appointment.

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