Is it illegal to choose not to allow a health visitor to visit you when you have a baby?

Question

This is just out of curiosity - I have a daughter who is 2 and no intentions of having any more.

The reason I ask is that my old health visitor was quite an abrupt and rude person and I used to dread her visits.. as I was coping well with parenthood and my child was doing fantastic I felt also that here visits were an intrusion and if I had been given a choice I would have much rathered take my wee girl to say a clinic at my Doctor's every so often for her to be checked over instead..which eventually I did do but the home visits were never put as being something I could opt out of.

Answer 1

I know what you mean - as a first-time mum I felt vulnerable. i had a lovely health visitor at first, who was a real rock, but then we moved, the new one was a frightful old bat, but I continued to let her come to see us because I didn't want to have a confrontation. Eventually she was so rude to me that I convinced her that I was fine, and coping well, and she didn't come back.

I don't think they can force you to have a visitor in your home - the only people who can barge in are the Police, with a search warrant, or if there's some emergency like leaking gas. They'd have to be sure of suspicions to be granted a search warrant.

I suppose they feel obliged to visit you at home in order to prevent the child abuse cases where the poor children aren't seen until it's too late. If they left it to us to go to the surgery, we just might not bother.

Answer 2

I am glad you posted this question - I have a 6 month old, and I will NOT allow my health visitor to put her foot through my front door! I actually complained to my GP about her. When we needed her expertise, she never even bothered to return our phone calls. She never bothered to pick up my son for a checkover or whatever I thought her job entailed, she was more interested in collecting statistical information for the government about whether or not I had postnatal depression, suicidal thoughts, my family background etc. She was like a spy, no kidding, very rude and intrusive, just like you described. I am sure they are meant to look at whats best for the child, but I think she was going beyond that and almost initiating conversations which were bringing my capability as a mother into question. Why doesn't she check if my baby is developing properly, as opposed to worrying about things that are not of her concern!? She isn't coming into my house again, I tell you that much, and I don't want any other visitor around either. If I have a problem I will seek an opinion of a GP, not her. She never washed her hands either when she came in, nor did she use the sterilising gel. I mean, the woman could have been in the public bogg for all I know. I am dissatisfied with her, and I am glad I am not the only one that feels this way. It is my child, my responsibility and what I say goes, not what somebody else says. She should go and cater for those that need real help instead of wasting my time and the NHS money!

Answer 3

It is not illegal you can opt to take the baby to the clinic if you prefer, I know they prefer to visit the home for the first 4 weeks or so because of the baby not being imunised. I opted out of home visits and now take my baby to clinic every couple of weeks. Don't let them push you around hun because some will especialy the older ones. I'm lucky I have a real nice health visitor this time round but the first one i had was a right hitler. I always say a mother knows her baby best and I know if you were worried about anything you'd ask, so don't worry k. Good Luck

Answer 4

I think if we were talking about a new baby there may be some requirement that means "a" health visitor would need to see the baby and make sure mum is ok as well but as for like follow up visits i don`t think necessary , my HV used to sit in my house for about 2 hours a week and drink tea ! Sure she was skiving ! Other than that they can be a pain in the a s s

Answer 5

Not all parents are as good as you were and the children's interest must come before your own views. If the health visitor was rude and abrupt you have a right to write a complaint to her office.
Unfortunately not all bad cases get found out in time as the news sometimes tells us.

Answer 6

I would hope no country in the world would be so stupid. We saw both ends of the spectrum with our son.

The best was a West Indian lady who had about five or six children of her own, and getting on for a dozen grandchildren. She didn't have to read a book, she knew it all from experience, and was fantastic.

The second had only ever read books, and was what I polietly call a "health fascist", especially where breast feeding was concerned. She nearly put our son in hospital.

It is your baby, and your house.

Answer 7

I have never heard of home visits unless a baby was premie or left the hospital with a condition. It sounds as though your child was completely healthy. I wouldn't think it would be illegal for someone to turn down a home visit.

Answer 8

I had rather a rude matron type health visitor, my first baby is now 23years, but my health visitor came in and asked me to remove all his clothes. He was asleep, I said no. My husband asked why we needed to remove all his clothes, including his nappy, the HV said she wanted to 'check him over', erm pardon me, for what? What she wanted was to check for bruising (he was about 2 months old) - my first baby, how very dare she!!! She was shown the door, she did not return. I did not have one visit when I had my second baby. I went to the clinic/doctors for weighing and jabs and developmental checks. Stick to that.

Answer 9

I doubt if it is illegal and services vary so much around the country as do individual workers that in some areas you would struggle to get one! I'm hazarding a guess that you are bringing your daughter up yourself and in some knee-jerk authorities that might attract extra attention but if she was less than polite you should have brought it up with her rather than have put up with her and I know its easy to be wise in hindsight but try to get the service you are entitled to in all areas of your life at the time it is short of that which would be the bare minimum to most minds. Good luck to you both.

Answer 10

Wow, I only ever had one home visit from a health visitor, then I had to take her to a clinic to be weighed.
I guess that it is entirely your choice as to whether or not you will allow access...it's your home after all.