Summoned to meet the health visitor - what might it be?

[BoosMaw]

Hi all,

I received a letter from health visitors summoning me to bring my DS (14 months) to the HV's central office for an appointment. I last took him to see the baby clinic approx 4 months ago, the clinics are at the doctors locally, the appt I've been given is at offices some distance away. It's all a bit mysterious. I tried calling the number on letter but nobody ever answers the phone. My older DD never had a development check at this age or stage, but we moved house since she was small and things may have changed since then.

My thoughts are that they may have just noticed its been a while since I took him to the clinic so they're just checking in, but my paranoid self is wondering if something more sinister is going on, after all, HV's are the secret police, right?!

Someone please come along and reassure me that all 14 month olds are called up for a routine weigh-in or some such, and this is all normal.

Would it not just be 1 year development check, sometimes they are a bit behind with them.

Does the child health record book (red book thing) have a page for this stage? Could it be MMR related?

In our area it's just 8 month check and 2 year check. I'm sure all is fine :) You could always ring to check?

Here we get nothing after the 6 week check at the docs, so if I got a similar letter I would be a bit freaked TBH.

Probably just routine though.

Well you don't actually have to go. And I wouldn't myself on principle of being "summoned".

But keep ringing, see if they let you know why before making the journey.

They can't summon you. They can only ask. Dd has never seen hv except for first handover from midwife. I explained I would not be bringing her in and if I needed anything I would go to the gp.

Phone them and leave a message. Or phone your gp and tell them. They should be able to pass a message.

Its probably just the twelve month check. If you haven't been since your Dc was 10 months they would not have got the opportunity to tell you about it (thats not a criticism - i didn't bother going to the HV very often either). In our area they are under staffed so just give you a questionnaire to fill in at 12 months. I suspect at 14 months they have probably checked who didn't fill it in/didn't have a twelve month check and the letter is probably just to invite you to attend that check. But as pagwatch says they can't summon you. If you aren't worried about your DC and don't think a chat with the HV would be beneficial you are entirely within your rights to just ignore the letter or phone them and tell them you won't be attending.

Agree it will probably be a general check up.

I got a letter for DD2 to see the HV around 4mths. I too was bit [hmm[ but it was just a 3/4 mth review check up. DD1 never got this at all and wasnt seen at all till her 2 yr check.

What does the letter say? Does it 'invite' you ? If they thought something wrong or someone had complained/raised concern then Id say they'd be trying to visit you at home to check out your surroundings etc.

if they're not answering the phone number provided don't go - mention it to the gp next time you happen to be in there

HVs aren't the a compulsory part of having children - thank the lord

I wouldn't attend an appointment unless the HV's letter explained what it was for. How high handed not to explain the purpose.

You don't have to go, the Hv's haven't got the power to summon you to anything. On the other hand if it's the 12 month check you might find it useful?