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.

I agree that the paragraph you have quoted warranted a referral. With my fjrst baby I was not confident about the cord/stump, weight, feeding, etc, and also knew the heel prick test was essential.

I could not have removed the remaining cord.

When my dd was born the midwives were allowed in to review the baby. I did not allow them to review me because they missed infection indicators the previous time.

If my views were as strong as the op's I'd have arranged for my baby to be reviewed every other day by a paediatrician or private midwife at the local private hospital. I'd have been happy to pay.

Neither of my DC had the HV checks at the prescribed times. If I'd had any concerns my DC would have been reviewed by a paediatrician.

No one can make the claim that the ONLY way to protect children is by having a midwife on your doorstep. That is batshit and is trolling.

It does not include inspecting the house and sleeping arrangements. None of my midwives/visitors have put a foot upstairs. Where in the law does it say 'an officer of the state must be permitted entry to inspect sleeping arrangements for newborns'? Nowhere!

Op you are under suspicion the same way as people who don't want to use a receipt to get out of the supermarket barrier after paying are: you're doing nothing wrong but the refusal to comply is irritating to authority so they look at you more closely.

You're the one who is slagging off how a different country from yours does things and crowing about how superior your system is. What do they do in your country if someone refuses to attend baby clinic or see a professional? How do they know the baby is OK?
They don't visit for 10 days if the baby is fine here. Only if the mum needs support. I found having a couple of visits helpful

With kindness OP, the way that the midwives changed (from when you were pregnant them agreeing that you didn’t have to have people round) to then at the birth saying they would indeed make a home visit whether you like it or not…. could be because they started to have concerns at how you were coming across. I know it feels horrible to be judged - i had it myself from a HV or 2. But to be honest, looking back, i now realise that I wasn’t coping well, and they were only trying to support me and the baby.
They have a system to follow, and it’s there for good reason. Is it really that hard for you to let them in? You could have a friend or family member round at the same time if that helps you feel more secure.

What are you ashamed of or are you hiding something ?

Midwives do not routinely come to your home for 10 days post birth in the UK. It varies from area but it's usually two visits and if you had a straight forward birth you tend to go to clinic in my area.

You do sound absolutely unhinged in a post talking about calling the police on health care staff who are not looking to force entry. The police would be more likely to call social services for a welfare check on baby.

If OP had declined the service politely then it is highly likely social services would never have been contacted. Something about her behaviour has sparked concern that she may be hiding something.

This isn’t a service. It’s a violation of her privacy. I have never heard of such a “service” where they demand to go into your home without any cause and Threaten a new mom?? I am so glad to be an American. We also have free home visits but they are VOLUNTARY and the nurses are trained to make mothers feel secure and not judged.

It’s literally my job. It happens all the time. There were 29.8 child deaths per 100,000 in the UK last year. Of those deaths, more than half were under a year old, and 42% were babies in their first week of life. Of all of those child deaths, 43% were found to have modifiable factors. That’s aspects that could have affected the outcome in some way.

These are the most common modifiable factors in deaths of children under one. The is from the national child mortality database, and is collated by the child death overview panel which looks into the deaths of children in the UK. Almost all of these are factors that could be identified and improved by a home visit from a health professional.

i opted as mine never turned up to my scheduled appointment. She rang me up after and told me she couldn’t be expected to be on time and I didn’t fancy staying in for the rest of the day on the off chance she could make it! (Id re-arranged my working week for the appointment) Never heard anything more from it

You also have the highest infant mortality rates of any developed country…..

Isnt It 3am in Australia? And you are up spouting bullshit about a country that you don’t even live in?
And you are calling other people unhinged 🤣

What about the baby’s human rights?

Um... maybe you should check the world clock. It is 5:34pm Saturday afternoon here. Talk about spouting bullshit....

I am so glad to be an American

Wait until you find out about maternity leave 😂

How does going to a Baby Clinic instead of having a HV sitting on your doorstep remove the baby's human rights?

They are voluntary here. As has been repeatedly said on the thread. And I don’t think you’ll find much support for the good ole USofA when comparing health systems.

Yes sadly it is. I too have witnessed many many child neglect cases during my professional life - they are heart breaking. The parents often go to great lengths to hide this neglect so the OPs behaviour will be raising red flags and will inevitably encourage the kind of scrutiny she is so desperate to avoid.
I feel glad that we live in a country that, in theory but not always in practice, protects the rights of the child.
I think the OP may find a lawyer who would take this on if she has the money to fund it but imho it wouldn’t get far and she will lose a lot of money and credibility if she attempts to pursue this course of action.

They are voluntary here.

Apparently not.... As the OP found out.

I was not persuaded that the HV's I saw were competent to define and recognise squalor. They weren't the cleanest individuals I've come across and the baby clinic I attended was, frankly, filthy and not a place I felt comfortable to subject my baby to.

If HV are to play a part in identifying issues or squalor, I think with all my heart that the service needs to up its game significantly.

Because they’re checking safe sleep arrangements.

I disagree. I’m from Australia and we have something similar but - after hearing the stories about how the UK Health Visitors conduct themselves and their behaviour in other peoples homes - I would not let them step foot in my house.

You have to comply otherwise there will be consequences. You should be grateful you live in a society which shows concern for your well being and that of your child. Instead of kicking up an almight fuss about a perfectly reasonable visit.

The mother can tell them that at Baby Clinic.

You are sadly unable to see it from their perspective. Your behaviour is making them think your baby is at risk, whether that is right or wrong or factual or not. Therefore they are going to proceed and pursue it. Reason being they are thinking of the human rights of the child involved. It is truly mind blowing that instead of being able to see the above and letting them know to your home for fifteen minutes you are choosing to spend huge amounts of time and stress to prove a point. This isn't about you, this is about your baby so obviously they are going to pursue it to check the human rights of your baby which is their moral obligation and their duty. Of course, yes it is your right to decline and your choice to fight it. And no I don't have any legal advice as do not know anyone who would choose to follow the path you are following! I wish you luck as you will need it and I also hope the effects of the stress and the time taken are not too detrimental on you and your child. I appreciate sometimes people will go to any lengths to prove a point, in this case that you have a human right but to remind you this is about the human rights of your baby so your arguement doesn't really make sense. I think it is genuinely sad that you are choosing the path of stress and time instead of the path of logic.