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Original poster

Can I opt Out of Having a Health Visitor?

65 replies

FutureMummmmmmyx · 19/04/2017 13:06

Is having a health visitor a legal requirement? Can you tell them you don't wish to have one? And if so, Has anyone done this?

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raffle · 19/04/2017 13:38

My first HV was rubbish, refused to entertain my concerns re ASD and informed the GP I had no grounds for concern.

DS was diagnosed with ASD at 2 years and 3 months. I refused to allow HV anywhere near any MDT meetings etc.

With DS2 I happily had the HV round prior to the birth. Over a cup of tea I politely told her I had no faith at all in their service and required no further input. She understood where I was coming from, she was lovely. I said I would ring if I had any worries, other than that I would see her at the 2 year check.

I also didn't take DS2 to get weighed at the clinic either. No red flags raised. Boys now 8&4.

Zampa · 19/04/2017 13:39

My HV is wonderful. Really supportive, non-judgemental, answers any questions ...

Maybe meet yours first and then see if you want to continue?

NerrSnerr · 19/04/2017 13:39

I don't know why you'd opt out of the newborn hearing test. That was the only home visit I got, I accessed their service after that by going to the weigh in clinic. Getting my daughter weighed regularly helped flag up some health issues with her during her first year.

Shortdarkandfeisty · 19/04/2017 13:40

I didn't see one except with my first child
Nobody cared

PerpetualStudent · 19/04/2017 13:40

I got massively gipped by my HV then, no hearing checks or any other kind of checks. The 'social services' questions were slipped in with about as much subtly as an anvil, and she was scared of our geriatric cat.
It's great if you had a supportive/knowledgeable HV, but a quick search of MN wil show you scores of people who've had unannounced visits and unhelpful and outdated advice. It's obviously a real hit and miss service on a lot of levels, I would definately encourage the OP to find out more from her midwife about how it's run in her area.

AssassinatedBeauty · 19/04/2017 13:43

Don't forget though that you really only hear about the issues people have with HV on here. No one would bother to start a thread to say their HV experience was totally fine. So what you see here is inevitably going to be skewed to the negative.

purplecoathanger · 19/04/2017 13:46

I actually think we're incredibly fortunate to have NHS services in this country. Sadly the HV service is underfunded and overworked, leading to burnt out and harassed health visitors.

Perhaps we should value and support the services we have. I for one would hate to lose such a valuable service.

Wolfiefan · 19/04/2017 13:49

I found the service useful. Bizarrely maybe more so with my second child. We had moved and I didn't know many people. Accessed new parent group and even sessions on weaning. Included tasting!
They can be a real lifeline and you can access all kinds of information and services through them.

Shortdarkandfeisty · 19/04/2017 13:49

The one I did see was useless
Op, don't bother if you don't want one!

Original poster
FutureMummmmmmyx · 19/04/2017 13:49

I know i'm just going to get more replies questioning me, but my question was if they were optional, and I got my answer so I wont be addressing why I don't want one as thats not really anyone elses business.

Thank you to the ladies who actually answered my question :)

And yes, I'd still be taking my baby to the GP and going to all my appointments and all of theirs of course. Through-out my whole pregnancy, ive had no problems, I've been to every single appointment, passed all my tests, kept in contact, always arrived early. Absolutely no problems or ''Red Flags''. I just don't want a HV. There's nothing worrying or dodgy going on, Just a personal choice. Which is these are indeed optional then whether I want them or not shouldnt cause any ''red flags'' when there has been NO problems. I even had a midwife come to my home once before during this pregnancy so again, They know nothing dodgy. opting out if just my personal choice.

OP posts:
Bringmesunshite · 19/04/2017 13:50

Mine failed to turn up then falsely claimed she'd called me to say she was going to be late. As I was sat in by the phone waiting for her to come or to call, she got found out.
Fecking waste of space.

Neverknowing · 19/04/2017 13:50

I really wouldn't recommend opting out my hv saw me at ten days and really helped. The advice they give is amazing and the support was much needed for me.
I know this is very rare but my friends HV realised her baby had meningitis and saved her babies life. I think health visits are very important, hence they do them.

honeycheeerios · 19/04/2017 13:51

You don't have to see one, but I don't really get why anyone would refuse to see a HV unless they have something to hide Confused especially a first time parent.

It's not like they hassle you or stick their ore in. You see them probably 3 or 4 times over 2 years.

They can pick up on development issues and arrange support, give advice and ensure you are aware of baby/toddler things going on in the area that may interest you.

2014newme · 19/04/2017 13:52

I found it handy personally. They cover up to age five, who knows what advice you may need by then. Mine was helpful when my 1 year old wouldn't eat much and when we moved one came by to tell us the facilities in the new area.

Shortdarkandfeisty · 19/04/2017 13:55

HoneyCheerios you said

"You don't have to see one, but I don't really get why anyone would refuse to see a HV unless they have something to hide confused especially a first time parent."

That's bullshit, frankly! Perhaps the OP has family support, perhaps she's going back to work quickly, whatever, it's her choice, imo

AssassinatedBeauty · 19/04/2017 13:55

If you opt out, do you still get invited to developmental checks, like the 9 month/12 month/2 year checks? Or is the assumption that you don't want to have those checks either?

purplecoathanger · 19/04/2017 13:56

Two of my close friends have been referred to Social Services. If you attend A & E with a baby who has been injured you might be referred. Both my friends' babies had an injury. One had a bump on the head and the other a broken leg. Both were absolutely accidental. Once a social worker is involved the first thing they do is speak to the health visitor. If you don't have one because you have opted out, questions would definitely be asked. I wouldn't risk it. Accidents happen every day.

Ikillallplants · 19/04/2017 13:56

My first hv was horrendous. Second time around the hv rang to book an appointment stating within the first few seconds she was new to the area. Apparently many people had the same issues with the first one so she had to tell everyone she wasn't the same person or they wouldn't let her in the house Shock

GastonsWife · 19/04/2017 13:58

I like my HV. She is very paitent with me and told me I had a lovely house 🤣

Xmasbaby11 · 19/04/2017 13:58

But why wouldn't you want a health visitor? If you have no problems it'll be a very quick visit and you won't see them again.

Shortdarkandfeisty · 19/04/2017 13:58

Oh stop it with the scaremongering fgs! So the OP should have a HV because of a hypothetical accident that hasn't happened to a baby she hasn't even had yet? Riiiiiight.

purplecoathanger · 19/04/2017 13:59

Another of my friends had a baby with a heart defect. The GP missed it but the HV picked it up. HVs often know far more about child health than an a GP does.

Shortdarkandfeisty · 19/04/2017 13:59

Yes you still get invited to developmental checks afaik

raffle · 19/04/2017 14:47

Yep, we had developmental checks done at a meeting at DS nursery after declining the HV service.

raffle · 19/04/2017 14:48

Not very clear - I ment we met the HV at nursery and held the meeting there