Netmums Parents survey

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

The results of this survey are just beginning to come in so far there have

been over a 1,000 responses. Here are some that Sally sent me just to show

you:

'I had a brilliant health visitor who saw me through my son's early years.

She would call me at home if I hadn't been in for a while and I was invited

in for regular checks. She came to see me at home when my daughter who is

now 2.5 was born to complete her book with me. Very sadly she died very

suddenly the week after this visit. She was never replaced and although I

took my daughter a few times for checks on her weight I never saw the same

health visitor twice and in the end I stopped going as it was always so

busy. No-one ever called me to see what had happened to me or to invite me

and my children in for a check up. I now haven't heard from anyone in the

health visitor department for almost 2 years. Luckily I am a good parent and

my children have had no real problems that I haven't been able to resolve

via the gp or family and friends but I did get very depressed when my

daughter was born as it was very close to Christmas and it was only a chance

visit to my doctor that picked this up otherwise I could have got very ill

and not realised. I know my original health visitor would have picked up on

this straight away - she was a friend as well as a health visitor and this

is what is missing from the service now'.

'My survey response is fairly positive in that I do actually have a health

visitor who I know is accessible should I need to call. However I do know

that he has a much increased workload due to colleagues leaving and not

being replaced. As a result of this, the number of clinics he is available

to run has had to be reduced. Generally speaking I know this service is not

good for many mums and I have attended a forum to speak about such issues.

These people cannot be allowed to dwindle away - where else can people get

answers/information/support from. Having a child has to be the most life

changing experience and parents need a comprehensive, consistent form of

support otherwise, at the extreme and unthinkable end, we may end up with

many more cases of child abuse, neglect etc due to parents not being able to

cope'.

'My situation is slightly different as we have moved to different areas when

my youngest son was 4 months old. Our previous HV (based in Barnet) was an

absolute godsend-always there whenever I needed her. She was invaluable and

it was always on a one-to-one basis. She personally saw to both my sons each

and every time. However, since moving to Surrey, the service received has

been typical of that described by the consequences of staff cuts. I have

also been notified of 2 baby clinic closures since being here'.

If you follow this weblink you can see the Parent's survey incoming results

without the comments though.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/Report.asp?U=247824369961

If you follow this next link you can see the survey results from the Health

visitor survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/Report.asp?U=248826240978

Both surveys are on-going so please encourage colleagues and parents to

complete them.

Best wishes,