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Stressed out by health visitor, does she actually have any say over this?

8 replies

used2bthin · 07/03/2009 14:41

Long story but Dd has medical needs that mean that an extra eye needs to be kept on her if she is ill, and if she is badly hurt or very ill she would need an intramuscular injection.

I want her to start at playgroup two sessions a week. I found a brilliant playgroup I am totally comfortable with and they offered to be trained in giving the injection even though I had said they could call an ambulance and also I was prepared to stay close enough that I could get there quickly if needs be. They said they were more comfortable learning how to give it to be on the safe side, I thought excellant and rang DDs consultant to ask if there was a specialist nrse to come out and give training (I had been told this would be what happens when DD starts school.)

The consultants secretary said no sorry we haven't got a nurse atm so I rang the health visitor and got one I hadn't met before who asked way too many questions than were really necessary, when does DD have the injection (very rarely!) which professionals are involved in her care etc etc etc. Since DD is already under the paediatric community nurses for other medical type stuff she said maybe they could come and train the playgroup staff.

I then had a phone call from DDs consultant who said actualy the specialist nurse is coming out of retirement for a while and could probably come and do it, it may mean a bit of a delay so I would need to stay near the playgroup till it was sorted, I rang the H/V and told her this.

Yesterday evening at 6pm I got a phone call from here, she seemed to be thinking she would upset me and was so so weird, saying the community nurses and herself feel that hospitals don't always understand what is needed in the community and that everyone needs to be sure of what to do if DD is ill and that health and safety means that the pre school need to be very sure what they were doing. I said yes I know, the specialist nurse has 20 yrs experience so can tell them anything they need to know. She then said she isn't questioning my judgement but maybe the playgroup staff aren't licensed to give injctions. Also she was really patronising saying don't I think I should stay while DD settles in anyway, I will be!!!

Anyway the upshot of all this is that she is writing a letter to the specialist nurse. The thing is I am really unclear about why but she seems to be saying that DD shouldd only b allowed at playgroup of a nurse is present all the time which is madness as children with her condition go to schools, nurseries etc with no medical staff, the teachers just train or if they ar enot willing to do so they are on a special ambulance list.

Can she actually stop or slow down DD getting her playgroup sessions? She is wrong, I know she is wrong but something in her tone has made me nervous and I don 't now why. The playgroup have been very good but obviously want to make sure DD is safe in their care and I am worried she will write to them too and put them off. I'm going to ring her first thing monday morning and ask her what exactly she is writing a letter about to the nurse and to be more clear, she just used terms like "health and saftey obligations" and "in the community" without being clear about where and what she was referring to.

OP posts:
used2bthin · 07/03/2009 14:42

OMG so sorry at how long it is

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Glitterknickaz · 07/03/2009 14:44

In any case between her and the consultant it is the consultant that would be listened to. If she insists on doing this then get your consultant to back you up x

used2bthin · 07/03/2009 14:47

Thank you I am hoping to get to the consultant before she gets to the nurse and have just realised that as the nurse is off till three weeks time, this should be possible! I feel bad bothering the consultant with this when it is such unnecessary nonsense. But I am sure she will back me up, it would just be such a shame if she worries the playgroup with all this because it may put them off taking Dd which can be sorted out but DD was due to start setling in fairly soon I am just waiting o confirm sessions so have nothing in writing.

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feelingbetter · 07/03/2009 15:48

I have been through/still going thru a similar thing with DS and his nursery. Thankfully we have the opposite scenario in that everyone has been nothing but supportive, but we have had some difficulty, quite like your situation in that there is currently nobody holding the role of epilepsy nurse within the trust . With the help of the paed and SNHV, a doctor has been roped in to do the staff training at the nursery. Its not till march 18th, but DS has obliged by developing bronchiolitis, so hasn't actually been to nursery yet. Has a superb sense of timing, my DS .

Get your paed involved. It is their job to support you and DD. It isn't trivial - DD attending playgroup is very important for you both, and it shouldn't be hindered by someone interfering and stressing out over what seems to be a very unlikely event. I don't think she has ANY authority at all in this matter. Nip it in the bud and tell her to bog off!

used2bthin · 07/03/2009 16:10

Yes I will ring the consultant, the only problem is I will have to get past her secretary wfirst who is actually the one who started the mess by telling me there is no specialist nurse at the moment. Which is true but she must have known that the nurse will be coming back soon!

Sorry to hear that you are going through similar, it is so frustrating. Hope your DS gets well soon. I am not sure whan the nurse will come to the playgroup as she is not back till early april, I had hoped DD would start settling in before easter then attend after as soon as she is happy to be left but obviously can't go very far till they have been trained. I really wish it was monday now as can't wait to have it out prperly with the HV.

As a side issue, I get carers allowance and high rate DLA for DD, will I need to let them know if she goes to playgroup? It will be two two and a half hour sessions a week so five hours total.

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used2bthin · 07/03/2009 21:41

bump for the DLA question?

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madmouse · 07/03/2009 21:51

try a new thread with the question in the title

used2bthin · 07/03/2009 22:00

Thanks yes good plan!

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