Closure of baby clinic in Kew (Richmond Hamlet); clinic moved to Ham??!

[sheenlane]

Hi,

Are others as incensed as I am about next week's closure of the baby clinic in Kew (at Richmond Hamlet, Kew Foot Road)? Apparently, mums (and dads and carers) will have to bus/drive/walk all the way to Ham for baby advice and weighing.

Baby clinic (and breastfeeding advice) is a really important service! Why is it closing in Kew? Given the number of families in the area, I bet there's enough demand - especially with the recession babyboom! Is the clinic moving because of NHS budget cuts? If so, I bet NHS bosses won't be rushing to bring it back when the economy does pick up.

What if new mums are put off by going to Ham because of the hassle? Will they miss out on vital advice and info??

I've not been able to find out much from Rich and Twick Times. Was there a consultation period? What does Zac think? Surely the yummy mummies who voted for him expect him to demand public services that are both family friendly AND local.

It's ridiculous that Kew will have two Tescos but no baby clinic.

Sorry I've got so many questions - if anyone can fill me in, that would be great.

Wow that clinic was always packed when we used to go there, how will they fit everyone in at Ham?! No idea what the story is, but explains why we have a two month wait for ds's 2.5 year check and that it will be in Ham.

It is a shame as most people arrived on foot as there was no parking, so I imagine getting to Ham will not be easy at all for the non-drivers.

However, I have to admit I always felt uneasy as it was part of a rehab place and there were often drunks and drug addicts hanging around the entrance. For this reason alone I am happy to get the 65 bus!

Ps - is there really going to be another Tesco? Would happily campaign against that...

Yes the local NCT have contacted Linda Hagan head of health visiting and the public health leads for Richmond and Hounslow pct. Bugger all response.

Nct was supposed to be consulted, have it in writing there will be replacement provision and then nothing. They raised the issue last year when they tried to scrap the baby cafe breastfeeding support. The reason it has to move us because another bit of NHS owns the site and want it back and they are effectively pricing out the clinics. Most HV stuff has already gone to Ham even though Castelnau, Barnes, East Sheen, Mortlake and now Kew have no direct route on public transport. There is just one bus with two buggy spaces and a shed load of OAPS with trolly bags going up Church Road. Terrible provision for anyone with birth injuries, more than one child to transport or a disability. 4 buses is an unreasonable and potentially dangerous journey.

Email [email protected] to speak to the person coordinating local response. I have it on good authority PALS will be contacted tomorrow and press. Send her everything you know please. She'll be grateful.

You can't get the 65. It's the 371. 65 goes to other side of Ham and involves 20 min walk. At least at Kew Hamlet it was 10 mins from the station.

Kitty is correct. Below is the email what we sent last week, to which only Richmond LINK (gawd love 'em) have replied

..................

From: Richmond NCT Parent Support Coordinator
To: ;
Cc: ;
Bcc:
Subject: Removal of community health provision from Richmond
Date: 02 February 2012 15:03:41
Dear Charlotte and Jude

I am writing regarding the relocation of community health services from Richmond Royal to Ham. I have previously corresponded with Charlotte and Linda regarding breastfeeding support and the community health services relocation but I have not had any recent contact besides participation in the NHS Richmond consultation regarding breastfeeding services.

I am extremely concerned that health visitor services are to be removed from Richmond Royal and relocated to Ham in a fortnight. We have had no correspondence at the branch regarding this change and as we have previously raised concerns about the lack of postnatal support including health visitor clinics for women living in Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen we would expect to be notified and consulted on both time scales and replacement/interim services.

We are concerned that the move to Ham effectively removes access to health visitor clinics for women in Barnes, Mortlake, East Sheen and now Kew because there is no direct route to the clinic on public transport and there is only one bus from Richmond to the clinic that has limited spaces for pushchairs. We are particularly concerned about access for women who have had birth injuries, more than one child or difficulties using public transport due to disabilities.

We are surprised that these changes have not been more widely communicated and we have not been invited to participate in any consultation. Please would you give us full details of the planned changes, including details of the interim solutions that have been agreed to ensure no woman or child has less access to services? We would like to make a press statement to communicate the changes to the wider community and advise all local NCT members via email.

Yours sincerely

Sarah Gladwin
Parent Support Coordinator, NCT Richmond branch

Bumping for anyone who's not seen.

What is the actual date it's going? I've seen nothing in local press, on the consultations part of the website or from Googling.

Is the Baby Cafe staying or going? I heard it was staying - is that right??

Seen nothing anywhere either. The 371 is a really difficult bus with buggies etc and takes a very circuitous route. I've never noticed any drunks and drug addicts hanging around the entrance to Richmond hamlet, or not threateningly anyway, and I've lived a few minutes from it for the last fourteen years! I hope you didn't have a bad experience Sootysweep.

I've never seen substance abusers but I have been approached by someone with mental health problems. If you are not used to people who are quite seriously mentally unwell it can be unsettling. Incidentally the building is owned by St George's Mental health trust and they'd like it back. There's also a rehabilitation centre for head injuries so valuable work they do but not an ideal shared venue.

The problem is there is really nowhere suitable in Richmond to hold it. The old system of HV clinics in GP surgeries has gone because it was too expensive and needed too many staff and we have the ridiculous situation now where getting a private meeting with a HV is next to impossible. Which is just not good enough because the most vulnerable (pnd, v poorly babies, breastfeeding problems) are not being picked up early enough which then costs MORE in the long run to sort out!

I get very, very cross about this because the expectation is we'll just pay for health services like this in Richmond/Kew/Barnes. Unless you live in an "area of deprivation" - then you get arguably more services than needed. Very little is based on clinical need

Can't they install an HV morning service one day a week at Sheen Lane Health Centre, or Centre House next door? They have definitely housed other paediatric clinics there (eg audiology). Seems a much better choice than Ham, as there's a train station as well as buses. I have paid for health services already - in tax. Well done NCT for responding.

I have paid for health services already - in tax.

I quite agree. I also don't think it can be beyond the wit of NHS SW London to put a clinc in Sheen Lane health centre or the Kew children's centre (has that opened yet??) or Mortlake hall. Not that a single clinic is enough for the whole of the east side of the borough.

Or even in a GP surgery or school hall. Other health authorities manage it.

Our school have considered offering our community room as a mother and baby clinic venue tough I have no idea if that came to anything - I'll ask the headmaster after half term.

Sorry Kora - didn't notice you there - you should know better than me!

You're kidding! Apparently the NCT sent a list of venues with contact details. I doubt anything ever came of that either

Can I suggest you contact Sarah who's coordinating NCT's response? I bet she'd love to know about the community room offer. I know she was trying PALS today and has seen this thread.

I don't know if they were offering it as a result of the proposed move or just something that was discussed at school but it's certainly something they would consider as it was discussed at a strategy session about a year ago.

Hi Kewcumber, that one hasn't come up on my radar yet! Please do ask the head, as you've heard about earlier proposal so you have more info than me. I do think it's a great idea. There might be some restrictions on use of the room, but not seen specifics so definitely worth asking!

Hello

Thank you everyone for your investigations and information (and particularly SheenLane for starting this thread). We have contacted PALS (the patient liaison service) last Friday but still have not had a reply back explaining what changes are happening and when.

We are still pushing away to try to find out what is happening... but we're just local parents like everyone else and although once we know what's happening we have the resource of the main NCT charity to help us (there are experienced campaigners and activists who can be called upon to pick holes in the processes and help with consultations) until we have the information there's not a huge amount that can be done.

Please keep bumping this and please keep making noise and sharing information. If you wish to contact PALS yourself you can telephone them on 0800 953 0363 or by email [email protected]

Thank you :)

Yet another cut/ closure that's been snuck through the back door!! I had an emcs so wouldn't have been able to drive. I also had PND and it was horrendous even psyching myself up to walk to the baby clinic. The prospect of having to negotiate a bus with a newborn and still feeling tender post-cs would have meant that I would probably have not gone at all to the clinic. There are plenty of church halls, community spaces etc that would make a great location for the clinic. It's not as if the clinic at Kew Foot Road had any particularly amazing facilities (although I am talking nearly four years ago now ! Will happily shout and make a noise where required!

Also, please, no more Tesco's either!! Richmond and Kew are already well served by several supermarkets, we don't need yet another one draining money from our lovely local businesses.

I can feel an "indignant from Kew" email to Zack brewing about both of these!

I am calling PALS today. I spoke to Sarah and they have not got back to Richmond NCT with details of what's happening

If I can't get any answers from PALS I'm contacting Richmond and Twickenham Times. Regardless of the realities of what is happening with the service the fact that a local branch of the UK's biggest parenting charity isn't being given answers is pretty shitty. They have about 1000 local members who use clinic services for ffs!

We need to know what is happening NOW.

Just adding my voice to this thread as another local mum concerned by this move. The fact that the Ham clinic is so difficult to get to means that so many people won't bother (or won't be able) to attend and will be missing out on a vital support facility. There must be somewhere more accessible that can be used. I heard a rumour about a clinic opening on the Windham Road in Kew - is this not now happening?

I'm also irritated by the extreme lack of communication about it - this is the first I've heard of the move and was planning to attend the clinic next week... I imagine many families have had wasted journeys to Richmond Royal since the move.

I have briefly spoken to Sarah who has just had a response via the link. I think she's throwing things in temper at some of the inaccuracies in the response but she says it's not all bad news and will be putting out a statement ASAP once she's picked through the bull shit information.

Her email address is [email protected] if you want to get in touch. The branch also has a Facebook page www.facebook.com/richmondnct which I'll ask her to put her update on.

Hi Katie and others, glad I'm not the only one who thinks moving the service to the other side of the borough is bonkers.

Reading thru what others have said, the building reverting to St George's is not our problem - or our babies' problem. As gruffalo said, there are plenty of possible venues in Richmond/Kew. Unlikely Tesco will offer up space, but for Richmond/Kew to have "two Tescos, no baby clinic" would resonate with parents and non-parents alike. Btw, there's already a baby clinic at Centre House in Sheen that's overstretched with long queues.

Policywise, I can't remember much about the current Health bill and NCT Head Office may be better able to advise, but I reckon the Health boards that Lansley wants should have the £resources to set up another baby clinic - if the (political) will and pressure is there.

KatieM - who do you normally deal with at the Rich and Twick? The picture ed would probably jump at the chance to send a photographer for pic of mums and babies without a baby clinic - and splash it on the front page.

I'll also chase Zac's office ASAP - he should be heaping pressure on the NHS and the Council to keep a baby clinic in Richmond/Kew. I went onto hrch.nhs.uk - Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare is bidding to become a Foundation Trust and I was especially interested in the public meeting taking place in March.........

I'm keeping my powder dry until RichmondNCT have given more details of the response from the service providers... although I understand from a friend of mine Christine Fleming at R&T has been sent a link to this thread.

I have offered to do a survey ( for the regulars). It'll be a serious one though. Not a what do MNers like for Xmas dinner one