Human rights health visitor

[Erlisk]

I have seen it here before but the posts are old. Before my baby was born i told my midwife (UK) that i did not want any visits at home. I just like my privacy and want to be able to decide who enters my home. They offer visits as a service so i just decided to not let them in. I was happy to go for appointments.

Then in the hospital when the baby was born, they told me "someone was going to come into my house even if i do not want that". I kept saying no. They kept saying they just wanted to see where the baby would sleep etc. i said no. Then the midwifes came to the door and i told them i did not want them in my house. So they reported me to social services. Social services called me and threatened with official investigation if i do not let the midwifes and later health visitor in my house. Also for the one year visit.

I texted them many times i did not want. I also told them in person. So i have a lot of proof. Ok long story short i let them in.because they threatened with social services investigation = trying to take your baby. I had to let them in, they said everything was fine, and closed the case. But instead of bonding with my baby i was stressed that they were trying to take her away.

So. It is ten months ago so the one year visit is coming and I DO NOT WANT THEM IN MY HOUSE. So i decided to go after them. And yes, it is human rights violation. It is not normal in civilised countries that someone comes to your house without your consent and without a warrant. If you do not let them in they basically threaten to take your baby.

I am not looking for the comments that they are just helping etc. I am not interested in that 😉. What i am looking for here is other moms who went after them. I am researching where to complain. I am also making a list of solicitors who would help me. And maybe some group court case? I will make complaint to NHS. I believe we only have one year for this kind of thing so only people who experienced this last year. Or if you went through going to court and have a good no win no fee lawyer (London or Kent). They are violating human rights you everyone so no, i will not let it go.

Bit dramatic for a 15 minute visit from a health professional.
You should be grateful we have this free service.

Complain about the NHS for making a factual report to SS?

Just decline the visit? I can’t see the point in taking them to court. HV is not mandatory. In my area it’s standard for your first MW appointment after baby is born to be at home, I get why alarm bells would’ve rang when you so adamantly refused anyone into your home. For you to repeatedly refuse one 15 minute visit suggests you have something to hide.
If ever there was abuse taking place in your home the first thing the press and the general public would do would be to point the finger at the MW and HV and ask why your refusal to let anyone into your home wasn’t followed up. They followed it up and clearly didn’t find anything untoward. Just call the HV and say you don’t require a one year check as is your right. You don’t need to make a drama out of it.

If you want them to visit good for you. But human rights are above their wish to visit people's homes. They are not above the law

Hm. Didn't i say i am not interested in these replies? Anyone else going after them?
I declined the visit, but they forced their way in with threats.

Human rights are balanced against child protection. They needed to ensure your child was safe and their human rights were being met.

i would imagine if you go forward with this, it would invite more concern, rather than less. I’m a little concerned for you reading this - especially when you say it is impacting you bonding with baby. I’d refocus on my child if I were you.

Just decline the visit. You don't need to "go after them". Very weird phrasing btw.

What you are trying to achieve would make it much easier for child abuse and neglect to go undetected. Does that not concern you?

The social services said they would reopen the case and make formal investigation if i do mot let the health visitor in for one year visit. They also said they would do it if i do not vaccinate my baby but like i always wanted to vaccinate her. Who do they think they are?

Unfortunately you are making yourself a huge red flag of concern. Your baby has rights too. Those rights are to ensure they have a safe home environment.

@Erlisk They think they are the people entrusted with ensuring your baby is safe and well, which is exactly what they’re trying to do. Frankly, given how you’re carrying on, a SW referral sounds appropriate.

they are there to protect children, just let them to their jobs ffs

If you want to pursue it legally then you’ll probably need deep pockets. I doubt there’s any money in it for a no win, no fee lawyer as you haven’t suffered any financial loss or injury or anything. You’re just annoyed.

From the way you post on here, I suspect the way you have communicated with health professionals has given rise to concern about your situation at home and your wellbeing/state of mind. When there’s a young child involved, concern for safety trumps not wanting to have someone in your house, and once health professionals have that concern they must then follow safeguarding protocol. So while I understand the inconvenience, I would rather people like you were angry and inconvenienced than babies and children slip through the net, and I think you’ll find it tricky trying to argue against it because at the end of the day, if a safeguarding concern is raised, it must be followed.

I agree it’s awful @Erlisk but they will do it anyway.

Good luck

I don't like strangers in my home, but midwifes and health visitors have all been lovely.

I will not reply here anymore unless it is someone who actually reported them / went to solicitors / to court. Thank you for understanding 😉

Human rights are about being safe.

You’re overreacting about wanting to go to court. If you refused a visit and baby came to harm or was ill the midwife would be below their duty of care.
health visitor- you can request to go to their clinic instead.

I very much doubt you will have anyone that’s gone to court against the health visiting team

Your rights do not override your child’s rights to be safe and well cared for and to have their needs met. Your constant refusal to have services involved is a big red flag and raises concerns about your child’s care. Your attitude about “going after them” only makes things worse.

So you prioritise your human rights above your baby's human rights? You have the right to decline having your own health checked. You have the right to refuse medical intervention for your baby to an extent. But if you refuse utterly to engage with health services on your baby's behalf, you are denying your baby's human right to health care. Your behaviour raises massive safeguarding flags. You will not succeed in punishing the agencies who follow their legitimate remit to safeguard the nation's children.

I think it's a good thing that someone external is looking out for children and babies.

In terms of solicitors, if you want to try bringing an action: I think there must be human rights specialists?

You are sounding unhinged and this means they have a very good reason to be able to see that your child is safe.

You can howl human rights all you like but your child's human rights to be safe are above your right to privacy.

I would have liked much more involvement from health visitors tbh.

Have you had a history of people being invasive or abusive towards you? I just wonder where the need for privacy and control is coming from and whether your anger is aimed at the right place.

This isn’t just an issue about your rights - it’s also an issue about how to keep precious new babies safe. How would you go about doing that if you were in charge of the NHS?

I’m sorry you feel like you haven’t bonded with your baby. Wish you peace, but I don’t think this is the way to find it.

if anyone did go to a solicitor or court they won’t have a helpful story to tell.

The health visitor is not coming for your benefit. They are there to check your child has an environment which will keep them safe and healthy. And thank goodness for it, given the amount of horrible cases in this country where babies have been hurt or killed by neglect or violence.

As others have said, you are misunderstanding human rights here and a referral to social services sounds sensible if you’re saying to health professionals what you’re saying here.