Social services

[ttc2603]

Had my 20 week scan today I've been to all my midwife appointments and my hospital appointments which is obvious I'm not neglecting my child. Today the midwife said because I've missed calls with my doctor at the hospital which btw they didn't even come through to my phone but said if I miss 3 phone call appointments that social services could be involved. I think this is ridiculous I have shit signal at my house and I leave my phone on loud all day when waiting for these phone call appointments and I've never received any? How can they say they have to get social services involved if I don't answer the 3rd time as it's not my fault. Anyone else experienced this?

This makes no sense why they would ring ss on you! You don’t even have to have the health visitors involved either. What was the appointment for that you keep missing the call for?

I have no clue what it's for I've never thought to question it as I thought every pregnant woman has it, but from reading these comments I don't think it's normal? I will have to ring up and ask them what it's for as I have no idea! Its so silly how they can threaten ss but if they do then I'll decline it either as it's not child neglect

Unless there is a history of referrals and concerns, ss will not give a rats backside about this. It will not even pass the front door. The midwife is just being a jobs worth. Just laugh and ignore.

@SwordToFlamethrower sorry but I don't believe that happened. Never have I ever known ss to call in such circumstances and never have I ever heard one say they will take a baby that is not how it works.

This is really weird! I kept missing my HV because I was running around after my other kids and she just said 'you're clearly busy, ring me if you need anything,' and I never heard from her again!

And I've missed lots of calls just by being out and busy and not hearing the phone ring. They emailed when it was something specific. Never even the beginning of a suggestion of SS.

Literally this is what is happening. Have you even read the Ockenden Report?

^to add to my post though sometimes mw's are weird. When I went in to have my first baby a mw said my blood sugar was too low so I needed to have chocolate and orange juice to raise it otherwise it was a guaranteed c-section.

No one wants chocolate and orange juice in active labour!!

I had one bite and projectile vomited across the room.

Natural birth and all was fine.

Just weird.

I’d agree with this. There’s five mums with babies under 6 months now and we’ve all missed multiple appointments because the hospital in the nearest town has got rid of its maternity unit and it’s childrens ward so we’ve to get 30 odd miles away. Three buses there and three back. No buses in our village on a Sunday either so if we don’t have a car or van we’re stuffed.

I asked about this to them this afternoon when the kids school bus came in and none of us have had this. we’ve all got different HVs too and had different midwives since the hospital shifted its services further away and centralised it.

I wouldn't worry- It's not child protection as your attending scans so they would need your consent to submit a referral.

agree with @Theillustratedmummy I work closely with SS and the workload they have is
ridiculous, not to mention there are legal thresholds that need to be passed (which are high) before care proceedings can be initiated and believe me missing a few midwife/hospital appts are not gonna trigger that. They would become involved way before this point if there were genuine concerns and you would be aware of it not just a midwife threatening it.

To be frank, I'd be more concerned that a doctor has tried three times to give me a personal call and that I'd missed them! I appreciate you having crappy signal, but when you're pg/have a new baby, you're really going to have to have a number where healthcare professionals can reach you.

I suspect the midwife is mistaken & there have been no missed calls. Sounds like a computer error. Do you know which dr has supposedly been calling? If so ring their secretary to find out why. If not give the midwife your landline number (I see from a previous post you have one, even though you are presumably under 50!) and ask her to have that number added to
your notes.

This is your answer you need

Have you submitted any samples recently? I had a call from the hospital when my booking samples showed a UTI

The midwife is partially correct.
I looked up on the NHS and found 'A Clinical Guideline for: Women who miss Antenatal Appointments' which is for staff for guidance for missed appointments. Looking at the 'Guidance for missed appointments' section, there are different guidelines for midwives/constants etc... But after 3 missed calls they should ask you for a home visit.

'If unable to contact woman notify Community Midwife ask to attempt home visit within 7 days.'

If unable to do that, they then move onto this.

'Involve appropriate support agencies – particularly where
there maybe child protection concerns – complete local
safeguarding form for welfare issues.'

This above is more to do with checking mental capacity concerns or appointment misunderstandings or checking if you are still pregnant or if you are being abused or for your wellbeing etc..... They will not take your baby away for a few missed calls. You have every right to decline all care if you wish and they cannot refer to you SS because of it nor take your baby away because of it. They would only refer to SS/ Health Worker at this stage for your own wellbeing. They just want to know what's going on. So please don't panic about your baby being taken away. I do think the midwife was being a bit harsh in saying she will get SS involved. There are steps involved.
You have valid reasons for missing these 'appointments' (if it was not an error, it's possible the midwife was mistaken). This to SS or Health Workers is basically an open/close case. They will toss your case out the window.😊 And also I would recommend reporting the midwife to the hospital about her behaviour and maybe it's time to get a different one? I would also recommend giving your midwife an email address or some other alternative way of contacting you?

Given that you are going to need a landline for emergency use once you have a baby why not just get it installed now and give out that number?

I wish it were that simple! I have had numerous phone calls from the CCG, SS, the NHS, and other officialdom for years about disabled DD. I always give them my landline number; but have had to fill in various forms for them, which asked inter alia for my mobile number. Now, they always ring me on my mobile - reception in my house is so poor, I have to tell them to ring my landline! Do they ever write it down on the file for next time - apparently not!

I even put it on my signature on emails, to use my landline number not my mobile!

I suspect officialdom likes mobile numbers, because the chances are, they can get the other party on the phone immediately, wherever they are - because so many people have their mobile close by, hands free in the car, etc!

We’ve not used a landline in our home for years and always had kids. Emergency calls can be made free on any phone now.