Bloody useless Health Visitors

[twiglett]

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I have told my HV to piss off ages ago. Do the same? Assessment at 2? Piss off!

Absolutely pointless I think Twiglett. I detest them and have no faith in them at all and avoid them at all costs. Maybe some mumsnetters have come across some good ones but I haven't. I think the money used to employ them should be better used to have more access to paediatricians, who are actually specialised in children!!!!! In France, children are followed by a paediatrician as a matter of course, and to me that's a good system. Grrrrrrr

We got a sheet listing what ds should be able to do by age 4. He's only just turned 3....

We have a severe shortage of HV's in my area. Does this matter - not to me because I find them so non-commital (sp?). Any questions I have ever asked at the baby clinic received such wishy washy answers I was none the wiser. They seem to think my dd is too tall and heavy for her age - she looks perfectly fine to everyone else, she just is more like a 4 yo than a 3 yo. I saw my HV at the swimming club the other week trying and failing to discipline her own daughter and thought well there is nothing I would want to learn from that woman so the less I see her the better.

I think they're useless and the money should be put to better use. THe best I've ever heard about them is being inoffensive. I refuse to go to their stupid developmental checks, they can come and get me! Ignore the questionnaire.

Um - I actually think our HV is quite good. She came round to our house to do DS's 18 month check so he could be in his own surroundings. Gave us some useful discipline techniques less draconian than "Toddler Taming". She also told us she thinks the vaccination program is getting a little bit OTT and that she is refusing to give the new chickenpox vaccine when it comes in.

I know that HV's are restricted in what they can advise as they have to conform to government guidelines which isn't very useful. However she always seems really supportive and was great when DP stayed at home with DS and kept bringing list of parent and toddler groups where she had heard of other men going with their children.

Ha ha my granny works at baby clinic on the Isle of Wight and has done for 40 years. She weighed some of the HV's she now works with when they were babies!

my HV is good. I have said it many times before and will not bore you again, but she has really helped me with my daughter who has special needs and I think of her as a friend as well now. You most probably all think I am mad but she is not your run of a mill HV.

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My HV is great as well. She's been brilliant with ds1 (autistic). Completely supportive of my vaccination choices, and is keeping a bit of an extra eye on ds2 for me. She's been seriously ill recently, but I have heard she will be back at work in Jan.

Hang out in my HV's clinic and you'll observe a lot of mothers who really do need all the support and "directing" they can get! Teenage moms, stressed out moms, mentally absent, unexperienced Moms -- agree HVs often give bad advice, but some people are better off with bad advice than they would be without any advice.

I think that's very true Zebra and I also sure there are many good HVs around. I have just had bad experiences....

My HVs are fab and I gwet on really well with them.
If I don't agree with what they have told me I just ignore it.

I've always found them to be extremely nice and interested just not very good technically.

Bron, I used to live in Caerphilly. DH is from there! Ooh, wonder of I know you . . .prob not, its a big place!

(sorry, back to thread . . .)

Davros, you'd have been happy with mine - she knows her stuff!

yeah I've found that as well Davros. My definition of a good one is one who realises she knows naff all and refers on (and chases up appointments etc). Mine did that for me

mine is a midwife, a senior nurse, a health visitor, has a degree in psychology & child development and god knows how many other qualifications. I think she is from the old school. Much better than our paed

fio2, I'm jealous. Your use of your HV makes sense too Jimjams. I'm very lucky with my GPs and have good relationship with Paed (and his email address and he doesn't mind if I use it!). My poor old HV looks like she's in need of one herself, I might help her fill in her attendance allowance forms if she asks me...

I always get confused with my health visitor at the moment i don't no if shes being friendly and just chatting or doing her job. She says things to me like make sure you don't just go out with anyone to get back at your x, is that all on record????

Pead is an alcoholic drink driver and useless. Only ever see underlings anyway. Luckily we only have to see him or an underling once a year *except for statementing etc but that's a different paed)

Zebra - teenage mums in the same category as a mentally absent mothers. Did you think I'd let it past? There is no reason why a mother of 18 should be any worse and in need of 'directing' than a woman say of your age.

Ooooh, Zebra, I agree with Bekki - young mum does NOT = bad mum.

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Haven't seen or spoken to her for over a year, since we found out that dd2 definitely had special needs. She never said anything supportive then and we certainly don't need her now. ( you can tell I've had a bad day).