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Care Opinion

Baby clinic closed

Posted By Not a happy mum

"Baby clinic closed"

About: Lanarkshire Community Services

(as a parent/guardian),

My son is now over a year old so doesnt need to go to the baby clinic unless I want his weight checked or have a health issue that the health visitors can help with.

He hadnt eaten much for 3 weeks and the dr said he wasnt too worried as he was drinking extra milk but that I should get his weight checked.

When I went to the baby clinic I was told it was closed and now moved to Hunter health centre. The new times being 1. 30pm to 3. 30pm. Because of my job and with nursery and school pick ups (I dont drive so would need to take the bus) there is no way I can make the baby clinic.

I complained to Hunter health centre. I received a letter from the Patient Affairs Manager saying that she would get reports from colleagues and check my health records. That she would do this unless I told her not to.

Firstly my medical records have nothing to do with her or the situation.

Secondly why can she access them? These are confidential and she is not a medical professional but an admin worker.

Thirdly what if this letter went missing in the post? Is it normal procedure to allow anyone access to my medical files unless I say no? I think it should be the other way about she should be unable to access my records unless she has written permission from myself.

There have been many mums complaining. One said that the baby clinic is run at the same time as the addiction clinic and that people are touching her pram and child and she doesnt feel safe taking her baby there. Another mum said it is so busy now that she had to wait over an hour with a crying baby.

All this to save money.

Someone else said that she used to have a health visitor come to her home. Is this what we have to do now? Surely this costs more.

Another mum said they are going to do self weighing stations where your babys weight is printed out. So do you just strip your baby off wherever?

Just put the baby clinic back on at Alison Lea at 9. 30am which is easy for mums and minders to drop in after school drop offs problem solved.

I find it totally ridiculous

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Responses

Response from Kathryn Ferguson, Primary Care Division, NHS Lanarkshire 7 years ago
Kathryn Ferguson
Primary Care Division,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 08/09/2016 at 16:28
Published on Care Opinion at 18:30

picture of Kathryn Ferguson

Dear Not a happy mum

Thank you for your post on Patient Opinion. Hopefully you have received my email this morning explaining what happened and, again, please accept my apologies for the confusion and distress this has caused.

When we receive a complaint about clinical care, we let the patient know that staff who have not been involved with their care may need to see the health records so that we can respond fully. However, this part of our template acknowledgement letter should be removed if it is not relevant to the complaint that we have received. I am sorry that it was not removed from the letter we sent to you. Please be assured that we will not need to access your health records to allow us to respond to your complaint about the relocation of the baby clinic. Can I also assure you that all NHS staff are required to ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.

As I mentioned in my email to you this morning, please give my contact details to the other mums who are unhappy that this service has been relocated.

We will be in touch with you directly with a response to your complaint.

Best wishes

Kathryn

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