Tories are suggesting nursery nurses as standard......

[auntyspan]

Story here

The system works brilliantly in the Netherlands, apparently.... sounds far too good to be true. Surely staffing issues?

Sorry... duhhhh..... MATERNITY nurses....

it would be wonderful, but how the hell would the party of low taxation bankroll it?!

It does seem to work very well (I live in NL) but remember, private health schemes are the norm here. I believe most people pay, on average, 250 eu per month on top of taxes for an 'average' ie couple + 2 kids health insurance. Not saying it isn't a good scheme, just wondering how it would be funded nationally in the UK. The nurses are called 'kramzorgs' and I'm not sure if they are qualified nurses to the level of a hospital nurse, for example.

Also, as in every field, you have good and bad. My third child was born here and we had a kramzorg who was not very good at all. I asked her to leave after two days and relied on my mum instead. My friends and neighbours have had brilliant experiences though, so I guess its just the luck of the draw.

It doesn't sound to me like they are actual qualified nurses.

A bit confused: are they describing doulas?

I live in an area where they have cancelled the 8 month check as they don't have enough staff to do them, and the 2 year check is simply a large class with a talk given by a hv, and you can have your child weighed. So in effect you go from the 6 week check through to the preschool check before anyone does any formal developmental checks. I suspect that there is plenty of work to be done before maternity nurses come onto the agenda.

Ladymuck, we are also desperately short of health visitors here, and that needs to be adressed long before anything else is introduced. Like you, we have had no checks. Once again, this proposal is a cynical attempt to attract voters and make a few headlines.
AFAIK, maternity nurses are not nurses as such, but are indeed more like doulas. They care for mother and baby in the weeks immediately after birth . I'd have loved one and would certainly consider it next time!

I would not want a complete stranger in my house for 6 hours a day. I would rather have a decent community midwife/ health visitor service.

I think it would better if money was spent on providing developmental checks and then funding things like hearing tests, or speech theraphy for children who need it.

My son had to wait 6 months for an assessment for speech theraphy and then a another 3 months for any a treatment. Nine months is a long time for a child who is two and half years old!

Would n't it be better to spend more generally on our overstretched maternity services ie delivery units, midwives, breastfeeding specialists and ensuring continuity of care than to bring another position into the equation.

I agree with LIZS, most people have their partner for the first few weeks anyway, why would you want a nurse in the way when you're trying to get in to your own family rhythm? More midwives and breastfeeding specialists is definately whats needed!

i agree with Reallytired. when i first had dd all i wanted to do was be comfortable and i couldn't do that with someone else around.

put as much money as you want in maternity services, but not this.

besides, presumably you'd get some who very much wanted to instil their 'style' of parenting.

I think ladymuck's point is excellent and I'm surprised that it's not raised more frequently. Regular developmental and health checks would be much better use of whatever funds they plan to put towards this 6-day maternity nurse scheme.

I had my son in Holland 9 years ago and had a kraamverzorgster (think that's what she was..) It was fantastic. When I remember trying to cope the first 8 days after I had my daughter in the UK, totally confused, exhausted, baby losing weight, breastfeeding non-stop, piles of household chores, husband eager to help but inexpert..

Instead, an efficient, helpful, professional person, who checked baby every day, also my stitches, sore nipples etc. She made sure my toddler daughter was occupied, made snacks and light meals, reassured me about breastfeeding and took him away so I could rest. Cleaned the bathroom and toilet thoroughly every day, clean bedlinen every day, all towels washed and dried, all my clothes and baby's stuff sorted.

It was just what I needed to get over the first awful hump of exhaustion and post-birth blues. OK, perhaps she was a bit dictatorial occasionally, but the amount of practical help and actual pampering made a huge difference to how I felt. She was bossy, but it meant i actually rested and didn't do lots of chores. Then, my husband took over once she left. Meant I had a longer time with 2 adults to help out while I was establishing breast feeding and I could focus on enjoying my new baby and my little girl.

It was paid for by private health insurance which nearly everyone who works has (as earlier poster said) but would have been worth every penny if we had had to pay for it.

what about some help like this for the elderly or people caring for others.

I'd rather see them bump up staffing in hospitals and maternity units than do this. I personally wouldn't want a stranger in my house up to 6 hrs a day, even if it was just after giving birth. How are you supposed to bond as a family with the new baby if there's a stranger there most of the day.

With all the media coverage about low staffing in maternity units, you would think that would be a much higher priority!